Leona Paulson

Leona Ruth Paulson

Leona Paulson, 97, passed away Saturday, January 13, 2018 at Bethany at 42^nd, Fargo.

Leona, daughter of Marie Unger and reared by Rudolph and Sigred Hansen was born in Poplar, Montana on August 3, 1920.  She grew up and attended schools in Sutton, North Dakota.  Shortly after high school graduation she met the love of her life, Orian Paulson, and married Orian in 1939.  After their marriage, they moved to Pekin, North Dakota and Devils Lake, North Dakota where Orian, a butter maker, worked in a creamery until 1943.  In 1944, shortly after their daughter, and only child, Linda, was born in Devils Lake, Orian and Leona purchased a creamery in Wolf Point, Montana.

Through their ingenuity, they turned this small creamery in Wolf Point into a large candy and tobacco wholesale company, The Hi-Line Wholesale Company which the two of them operated side-by-side.  In 1978 they retired and moved to Fargo where they were able to enjoy being with their daughter, Linda, and her family.

Leona was gifted in music with a beautiful voice.  She enjoyed singing in choirs and for private events. When she was living in Wolf Point, she was active in First Lutheran Church.  She was presented with numerous awards by Eastern Star for banquet designs and decorating.  She also possessed a wonderful talent in the field of arts and crafts and enjoyed making Christmas ornaments, and other hand-made gifts.  She was an avid card player and loved playing “Hand and Foot” with friends. After Orian died in 1995, she traveled to Phoenix with friends during the winter months.  She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN and later enjoyed attending church at Bethany at 42^nd where she spent her later years.

Leona, affectionately called “Grandma Ona” was preceded in death by her husband, Orian and is survived by her daughter, Linda (Dick) Jeffries, Phoenix, Arizona, two grandchildren, Kim (Marty) Moen, Fargo; and Paul Jeffries, Fargo; three great-grandchildren, Tanner Brandt, Chelsea Brandt and Spencer Brandt and her God-daughter, Jeanne Benson Kauffmann.

Memorial Service:  Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at Bethany at 42^nd chapel, Fargo.