Regene Paulson

Regene Hayenga Paulson, age 84, of Brainerd died Thursday, October 18, 2001 at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd. A celebration of her life will be held at Bethany Good Samaritan Village on Tuesday, October 23, at 7:00 PM, with Reverend Len Anderson officiating. Interment will be at the Nisswa Cemetery. Memorials are preferred, to Augustana College of Sioux Falls, SD or to Bethany Good Samaritan Village of Brainerd. Arrangements are with Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.
Regene was born December 14, 1916 in Dell Rapids, SD, to Agnes (Solie) and Leonard Halvorson. She attended public schools in Dell Rapids and graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls in 1938. She taught English for one year in Alton, IA. She returned to Sioux Falls and worked at Augustana College and also worked as a musician. Regene married George ?Del? Hayenga on August 9, 1941, in Moscow, ID. They lived in Moscow and Ft. Lewis, WA until 1946, when they moved to Ottumwa, IA. During her twenty years in Ottumwa Regene was a member of First Lutheran Church, PEO, was active in many musical organizations and taught piano lessons. She enjoyed playing bridge, knitting, singing, and golfing. The family moved to the Chicago area in 1966, where they helped establish a Lutheran mission church and she directed the choir. In 1974 they returned to Brainerd. Regene was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa, AAUW, PEO, and the Sons of Norway. After being widowed in 1976 she became partners with Marlene Larson in the Skandihus Gift Shop, a partnership that continued until her marriage to Gordon Paulson on December 11, 1982. She lived in Brainerd and San Antonio, TX until being widowed in 1998, when she returned to Brainerd. She enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the United States and the world.

Regene is survived by four daughters, Diane (Mrs.Chris) Foote of Deephaven, Judy Hayenga of Lancaster, PA, Mary (Mrs.Steve) Suer of Brainerd, and Karen (Mrs.Carl) Schirmer, also of Brainerd; two sisters, Harriet Glenn of Charlotte, NC, and Bergliot Benzon of Glenwood MN; a brother Rev. Arndt Halvorson of Waconia MN; twelve grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Her parents and two husbands preceded her in death.

Submitted by: Brenny Funeral Chapel 218-828-5051