Mary Paulson

Mary Emily Paulson, 79, Hastings, formerly of Welch, died Monday at Regina Medical Center in Hastings, Minnesota. She was born October 24, 1927 in Frontenac, to Julius and Maude (Schmidt) Schmidt. She graduated from Lincoln High School in Lake City in 1945 and from Abbott Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis in 1948. She worked at St. John's Hospital in Red Wing for several years. She married Thomas Paulson in Christ Episcopal Church in Frontenac June 24, 1950. They lived in Red Wing until moving to Hastings in 1958. She worked part-time at Regina Medical Center until they moved to rural Welch in 1976. For several years she worked at Prairie Island Bingo and in July of 2005 moved to Hastings. Thomas died on December 29, 2004. She was a member of the Church of the Messiah at Prairie Island. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, cross stitch and doing crossword puzzles.

Survivors include three children: Bruce (Ruth) Paulson of Northfield, Minnesota, Charles Paulson of Hastings and Janet (Timothy) Hagl of Red Lake Falls, Minnesota; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sister, Lorraine Mueller of El Paso, Texas; one brother, Donald (Lois) Schmidt of Minneapolis; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Thomas; one brother, Frederick Schmidt; one sister-in-law, Audrey Schmidt and one brother-in-law, Eric Mueller.

Funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Church of the Messiah with Reverend Johnson Loud officiating. Burial will be in Prairie Island Community Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Kevin Friesen, Timothy Hagl, Andrew Meidl, Christopher and Nicholas Paulson and Brian Velde. Honorary pallbearers will be Sarah Friesen, Angela and Lisa Hagl, Julie Meidl, Heather Velde and Katie Paulson. Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 8 p. m. Thursday at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and on Friday for one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society or to Church of the Messiah.