Palmer Paulson, age 94, of Valley City, ND, died Thursday, July 1st at his residence in Valley City following the tradition of his four brothers.  A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, July 9th at Epworth United Methodist Church in Valley City.  Visitation will be held one hour before the service at the Church on Friday morning.  Inurnment will be in the Zion Getchell Cemetery, rural Valley City, ND.

Palmer was born on March 22, 1927, to Theodore and Olga (Aasland) Paulson. He attended the country school up the hill and finished eighth grade, then helped on the family farm on the lake road just north of Valley City. When his two older brothers went off to WWII, Palmer took over the farming operation, talking his mother into trading in the team of horses for a tractor. She complied, and in return, the teen-ager built his mother a grand set of kitchen cupboards, still in the house today. From an early age Palmer was able to build things, fix things and improve things as well as anyone twice his age. The “Great” Depression and his need to farm denied a bright mind of an engineering degree, but Palmer shared his skills by building a house for his sister Thelma, and plumbing, wiring and pouring the foundation for a house for his brother George. He also renovated the milk house for the dairy herd and elevated the floor of the barn so little brother Kenny didn’t have to bend over to put the milkers on the cows. At an early age Palmer was active in public service – he was a township supervisor for 15 years, served 30 years on the county zoning board and then was elected to his favorite job of all – the Barnes County Commission. It was there that he excelled, serving for 16 years before losing by three points in his final race. He also was a staunch member of the National Farmers Organization and became known all over the country for his purebred Galloway cattle herd. The Paulson Ponderosa was also home to dozens of meetings of the Barnes County Wildlife Club. Palmer was married to Maxine Miller for many years before parting ways, drove school bus for a few years, and then settled in to catch up on reading all the magazines he had stacked by his chair. He turned down several offers to move into “town” so he wasn’t alone, but he had the view of the 80 by the river and his many cats, and two devoted nephews who made sure he had a warm supper each night. He died peacefully, on his own terms.

Palmer was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, George, Oscar, Bob and Kenny Paulson; four half-sisters, Belinda Froelich, Thelma Zaun, Agnes Dorrance and Myrtle Zaun.

Palmer is survived by more nieces and nephews than anyone in the Valley; and a number of friends and colleagues.