Published in Pilot-Tribune, June 15, 2004

REV. CLARENCE A. PAULSEN

Blair native, the Rev. Clarence A. Paulsen, 88, died peacefully May 12, 2004, in Sacramento, Calif., with his family at his side.

Memorial services were held May 23, at Peace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley, Calif.

Clarence Alfred Paulsen was born June 6, 1915, in a farmhouse in Blair, the sixth of eight children. He was a first generation Danish-American, both of his parents having emigrated from Denmark around the turn of the century.

For his first eight years of school, he walked across farm fields to attend a one-room schoolhouse. He attended another rural school for grades 9 and 10, and graduated from Blair High School. As the son of a farmer, he had to work hard, but found ways to have fun with his brothers, building things and tearing things apart.

After graduating from high school, he, along with his brother, Ray, tried their hand at farming. After a number of years, they both felt a desire to do more and went to college.

Clarence attended Dana College in Blair for two years where, in addition to his academic studies, he played on the football tea. At Dana, he met a fellow student, Clarence Petersen, also from a Danish-Lutheran farming community in California. Petersen would eventually introduce Clarence to his sister, Ethel. Clarence liked to say, “I went to California to pick peaches, and ended up picking the best one of them all!”

He transferred to Augsburg College in Minnesota to complete his degree, then attended Trinity Seminary at Dana College. Although seminarians were discouraged in those days from marrying, Clarence and Ethel couldn’t wait; they were married Sept. 11, 1942, in Clarence’s final year.

The couple started their ministry and their family in Neola, Iowa. They moved to Kansas City, Kan., Toronto, Canada, and then to Ontario, Calif.

In Jan. 1969, Mrs. Paulsen died. On Sept. 14, 1969, Rev. Paulsen married Beverly Gibbs, who brought three children to add to his four. The couple completed their ministry at Prince of Peace in Ontario and retired in Nevada City in 1980.

During their retirement, they continued to give to many people: their congregation, neighbors, families and friends. They also enjoyed wonderful times traveling. Rev. Paulsen also did many building and construction projects at his church.

Rev. Paulsen always enjoyed an opportunity to go fishing, even forgoing church on occasion. He was also known for his woodworking and building skills, tiring out many a younger man who worked alongside him.

His family once asked if he had any works of wisdom to share with them. “Just do things right, be careful what you say and do,” was his response.

He is survived by his children and their families, Ivan Paulsen of Graeagle, Calif.; James L. Paulsen of Fresno, Calif.; David C. Paulsen of San Martin, Calif.; Judth C. Steenhoven of Castro Valley, Calif.; Ann L. Gibbs of El Reno, Okla.; Barbara A. Carrington of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and John W. Gibbs of Orcas Island, Wash.; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Harold and Clifford Paulsen.

He was preceded in death by his wives, Ethel and Beverly.

Memorials are suggested to the Mission Endowment Fund, Peace Lutheran Church, 828 W. Main Street, Grass Valley, CA, 95945.