Funeral services for Donald Paulson, 84, of Sioux Falls and formerly of Mobridge will be at 11 AM, Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mobridge. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be Monday starting at 4PM with a prayer service at 7PM at the funeral home. Donald passed away Monday, July 11, 2016 at Sanford USD Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Donald George Paulson was born August 5, 1931 to George and Martha (Rygh) Paulson in Mobridge, SD. Don attended Esther Catey School which is a rural Mobridge school and Mobridge Schools graduating from Mobridge High School in 1949.

After high school he was drafted into the Army and served during the Korean War. It was while he was training troops at Fort Riley, Kansas that he decided he would pursue a career as a teacher. Don enrolled at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. It was where he and Carolyn Carlson dated. They were married July 1, 1956 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mobridge. Don graduated from Augustana College in 1958 with a BS degree.

Don began his teaching career as a mathematics and physics teacher at Mobridge High School. He had an illustrious career as a teacher which resulted in many awards. One of his greatest honors was when one of his students, Marc Sommer, became a 1984 Presidential Scholar. There is one male and one female from each state selected to receive this award in Washington, DC. The students are asked to identify the teacher who was most influential in their life to accompany them to Washington, DC. Marc selected Don. Don received his award at Georgetown University. Reagan was President. He spoke to the students, their teachers and their parents on the south lawn.

Don's awards as a teacher are many! School of Mines, Lake Area Technical Institute, South Dakota Teacher of Mathematics and plaques and gold apples from his classes. The award of a grant for the academic year Science Institute sent him to the University of South Dakota from 1962-1963. He received his MS degree in 1963.

Don retired from teaching in 1997. Important to Don were the years he served as a Trustee on the Board of Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinic. Equally were the years he served on the Tiger Educational Foundation which provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors.

Don was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he served as president several times and held other positions as well. He was always available to support his church and community. Don helped to arrange fundraising dinners for the Mission of Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota.

Don and Carolyn moved to Sioux Falls in June of 2014 to be closer to their family.
Don is survived by his wife, Carolyn, sons, Jeff and Tim (Jodi) of Sioux Falls and Steve (Laurie) Paulson of Kindred, ND; grandchildren, Andrew, Elisabeth, Jordan, Nick, Kailey, Lukas and Braeden Paulson and sister, Lois (Paulson) Merrill.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Martha (Rygh) Paulson and father, George Paulson.

Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church/Tiger Educational Foundation (Box 622, Mobridge, SD 57601)/Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinic.