Vern was born on Sept. 24, 1928, on his grandfather’s farm in rural Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, to Carl A. and Esther (Peterson) Paulson, the fourth of five children. Vern was baptized and confirmed at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie. He attended rural County School 50 until eighth grade and often shared wonderful memories of growing up on the shores of Lake Nelson, learning about farming and his experiences in 4-H. He was a proud member of the graduating class of 1946 of Parkers Prairie High School. Following high school, Vern tested milk in Nicollet County and in June of 1948, enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard. Vern met his wife, Neva Mae Anderson, on April 28, 1950, and they were united in marriage on July 14, 1951, at Grace Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota. Vern was activated by the National Guard in 1951 and stationed in St. Peter, Minnesota. He was a Korea War veteran. In June of 1952 Vern was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant.

Vern wore many, many hats during his lifetime. After his discharge from the National Guard, Vern began working as a tile setter in Mankato, Minnesota, and also attended auctioneering school and began working as an auctioneer. Vern then attended the School of Agriculture in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in December 1954 moved his family to his father-in-law’s farm in rural Winthrop and began farming. Vern and Neva raised their two children, Nancy and David, on the farm. While farming, Vern also worked as an auctioneer and seed corn dealer, including growing, cleaning, bagging and selling his own certified and registered soybeans. Vern “retired” from farming in 2014, but never gave up his trusty International 300 tractor, continuing to take care of the farm, monitor the crops and check the tile lines into his 90s. Vern and Neva were active members of Bernadotte Lutheran Church, including serving as hosts for the annual Swedefest. Vern was a member of the Bernadotte Lutheran Church Men. Vern and Neva were active snowbirds, wintering first in Florida, then Mesa, Arizona, from 1988 until 2017. Vern enjoyed playing golf, pool, and croquet with fellow snowbirds and enjoyed teaching his grandchildren how to play as well. Vern was an adult leader of the B-Square 4-H Club. Vern and Neva traveled extensively throughout the United States and also traveled to Europe, Israel and Panama.

Vern is survived by his cherished wife, Neva Paulson of Lafayette; daughter Nancy Rubischko of Lafayette; son and daughter-in-law David and Terese Paulson of Bloomington, Minnesota; grandson Justin Niebuhr, his wife, Jenna, and their children Leah and Lora, of St. Charles, Missouri; granddaughter, Tricia Lancaster and husband, Mark, and their children, Mackenzie, Eleanor, Coraline and Josephine, of Northfield, Minnesota; grandson, Jared Niebuhr and fiancée, Kalei Gaines, and daughter, Leiauna Hayman of Minnetonka, Minnesota; grandsons, Stephen Paulson of Richfield, Minnesota, and Erik Paulson of Albany, New York; brother-in-law, Charles “Merton” Anderson; and many nieces and nephews.

Vern was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Esther Paulson; son-in-law, Thomas Rubischko; brothers, Leonard, Harry, and Lloyd Paulson; sister, Florance Voge; sisters-in-law, Doris Paulson, Beverly Paulson and Darlene Anderson; and brothers-in-law, Earl Wardien and Alan Voge.

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