Worthington, MN
     Shirley Ann (Johnson Thomsen) Paulsen, age 85, of Worthington, formerly of Round Lake, died Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Ecumen Meadows. She was born on June 27, 1930, in Lorain Township in rural Worthington to Enoch and Alvena (Greve) Johnson. She attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Round Lake High School in 1947. After attending Mankato Commercial College she worked in Worthington. Shirley married Gerald (Jerry) Thomsen on May 21, 1949. She was a bookkeeper/teller at Farmers State Bank, Round Lake from the early 1950s until 1981. She enjoyed working with many people from a wide area in that capacity. She also worked at home doing bookkeeping for the city clerk and Sather Cookie Company. During these years she participated in league bowling on an Eddie’s Place team and followed her children’s activities.
     Following Jerry's death in 1980, she married Robert (Bob) Paulsen on February 7, 1981 and was welcomed into his family. They spent many winters in Arizona, where they enjoyed golf, bowling and socializing with the many friends they made there. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and an active member of Presbyterian Women, Round Lake Senior Citizens and Walkers, the Indian Lake Extension Homemaker group, and Silver Lake Country Club at Lake Park. She enjoyed golfing (after learning the game in her 50s), socializing and exercising at the senior center, helping to serve at church events, playing cards, and watching the MN Twins, the Vikings, and college sports. In 2012 she moved to the memory care unit of Ecumen Meadows in Worthington, after living in the same home since very early in her first marriage. Her family is thankful for the excellent care and enriching activities they provided. Now our loving and merciful God has taken Shirley to her eternal home with Him, because of God’s gift of faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
     Shirley is survived by her husband, Bob, her four children and their spouses (and children): Dick Thomsen & friend Sue McNallan (Leah and Jeffrey), Rochester; Lynn & Rev. Marvin Soulek (Paul), Round Lake; Jeff Thomsen (Dumisani and Isaac), Minneapolis; and Amy & Larry Yeske, Round Lake; along with Bob’s children and their spouses (and children): Becky DeJong (Sally, Bill and Stacy), Round Lake; Bonnie & Dr. Wayne Feyereisn (Greg and Sara), St. Charles; and Lori & Mike Morrison (Ben, Jim and Annie), Round Lake; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Ardyce (Harold) Chester, Omaha; and Marie Rust, Owatonna; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded by her parents; husband, Jerry; brother, Lloyd Johnson; daughter-in-law Martha Thomsen; step-daughter, Marcia Paulsen; step-son-in-law Fred DeJong; ex-daughter-in-law, Connie Thomsen; brothers-in-law Donald Omer, George Paulsen, Earl Paulsen; sisters-in-law, Viola Johnson; Helen Paulsen, Minnie Paulsen, Laura DeBoom, and Bernice Lorenz.
     Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 7, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., at the First Presbyterian Church in Round Lake, MN, with Pastor Robert Bartlett officiating. Burial will be in the Round Lake Cemetery.
     Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 6, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington and also on Monday, March 7, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at the First Presbyterian Church in Round Lake, MN.
     Benson Funeral Home in Worthington is in charge of the arrangements.
