John Ray Paulsen

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John Ray Paulsen, age 75, of Crooks, died on Monday, March 12, 2018, at his home in Crooks.

Memorial services will begin 1:00 PM Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Benton Lutheran Church, rural Crooks.  Visitation will be one hour before the service.

John was born on December 18, 1942, to John F. and Myrtle (Barton) Paulsen in Rapid City, South Dakota. He grew up north of Wall near Pedro, South Dakota. He attended country grade school with one other student and rode his horse to class. He later attended Wall High School. John remembered that he and a friend would shoot grouse and jackrabbits on the way to school. The widows that lived in Wall would buy the grouse for 50 cents a piece and they would sell the jackrabbits to a hide company. Between his junior and senior years, he drove gravel truck.

After graduation, he worked at the missile sights in western South Dakota for four years. He married Mary Curtis in 1965. To this union was born a son, Damond. In 1992, he married Sharon Van Wyhe. Over the years he worked various construction jobs. He started driving truck over the road in 1975; working for various companies. For seven years before retirement, he delivered pharmaceuticals for PharMerica in South Dakota. After retirement he delivered fire trucks for Rosenbauer in Lyons.

John’s passion in life was hunting and fishing; which he loved greatly. He enjoyed driving around on side roads enjoying nature.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon, Crooks; son, Damond, Sioux Falls; step-sons: Kent Van Wyhe, Canton, SD, Patrick (Cami) Van Wyhe, Canton, SD, and Jeremy (Stephanie) Van Wyhe of Sioux Falls, SD;13 step grandchildren; 6 step great grandchildren; two cousins, Sherry (Kurth) Deland, Stromsburg, NE, and Velda Bishop of Rapid City, SD. Preceding him in death were his parents.