Kenneth Waldo Paulson

Kenneth Waldo Paulson, age 93, of Dassel, died Monday, February 3, 2025, at his residence. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel with Pastor Keith Carlson officiating. The United States Army Honor Guard and the Kingston American Legion will provide military honors. The interment of the urn will be held in the spring at the Cokato Cemetery. There will be a one-hour time to gather with the family prior to the service on Saturday, February 8, 2025, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel. Kenneth Waldo Paulson, the son of Arnold and Lillian (Bogart) Paulson was born on May 22, 1931, at the Cokato Hospital in Cokato, Minnesota. Kenneth grew up in the Dassel and Kingston area where he attended school. Kenneth worked as a farmhand for his step-grandfather, Everett Salmela, for many years. On July 16, 1952, Kenneth was inducted into the United States Army, serving a tour of duty overseas during the Korean War. On March 24, 1954, Kenneth was discharged from the Army and returned home to the Kingston Area. On February 16, 1957, Kenneth was united in marriage to Shirley Ivonne Marie Gustafson at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Dassel. Together they made their home in Litchfield for several years before they moved to Kingston. In 1962, Kenneth and Shirley moved south of Dassel where he has since resided. Kenneth had been employed at Gambles Hardware Store in Litchfield where he helped with plumbing, among other jobs at the hardware store. For many years he had been employed at ACP in Dassel and then Industrial Louvers in Delano. Upon retirement from Industrial Louvers, Kenneth helped with auctions for Lampi Auctioneers. He loved auctions, mowing the lawn, landscaping, gardening, tinkering on cars, watching car racing, small engines, clockwork, sewing, reading newspapers, and watching old western movies. He is survived by his children, Randy (Kay) Paulson of Kingston, Randa Hastings of Dassel, Rory Paulson of Hutchinson, RaChelle (Mitchell) Rawlins of Dassel, and Ryan Paulson of Dassel, 19 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, five siblings, Jeannette (Don) Shipp of Wills Point, Texas, Wayne (Nyla) Paulson of Watkins, Donna Wiebel, of Waconia, June (Ted) Johnson of Salon, Nevada, Terry (Paul) Flatt of Litchfield, three stepbrothers, Caleb Salmela of South Haven, Robert (Kris) Salmela of South Haven, Roger (Susan) Salmela of South Haven, and a sister-in-law, Yvonne Paulson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley, parents, Arnold Paulson, and Lillian (Paulson) Salmela, two siblings, Richard Paulson and Shirley Habisch and two stepbrothers, Howard Salmela and Donald Salmela, a brother-in-law, Alfred Habisch and step sister-in-law, Linda Salmela.

Kenneth Waldo Paulson

May 22, 1931 - February 3, 2025