Gladys Paulsen

Gladys Paulsen, 103 of Viborg, passed away on June 1, 2026 at the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home. Funeral Service will be at 2:00 PM Friday, June 5, 2026 at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Viborg. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM Thursday, June 4, 2026 at the Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Chapel, Viborg. In Lieu of Flowers, memorials may be directed to the Pioneer Memorial Foundation. Arrangements provided by Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home.

Gladys Peterson Nelson Paulsen was born February 27, 1923 west of Viborg to Arthur and Marie (Olson) Peterson. She joined brother J. Merle, and subsequently two additional brothers, Palmer and Herb.

She attended country school and graduated from Viborg High School in 1941. She joined her young aunt and cousin in 1944-1945 as a riveter and then shift supervisor building bombers for Boeing in Renton WA. She returned to the farm in 1945 and worked as a bookkeeper for Viborg Coop Oil and later Keller Drug.

On October 2, 1946 she married Leeland Nelson, son of Annie and Fred Nelson. Together they ran the Nelson Café on main street until Lee was hired as an early employee of the new Turner Hutchinson Electric Cooperatives (now Southeastern Electric Cooperative). In 1948 they moved to Marion, SD to establish Turner Hutchinson’s new headquarters. For a few years Lee and Gladys also operated the movie theatre in Marion. In 1948 Jeffrey Lee, and in 1951 Kathie Marie were born.

Lee died from cancer in 1977. Two years later Gladys married Ellwood Paulsen. Ellwood and Gladys made their home south of Viborg on Ellwood’s farm and moved to Viborg in 1995. Ellwood became an important and much loved family member and grandpa to Gladys’ family. Ellwood died in April 1998. Mom and her much cherished friend, Jackie (Lyle) chatted and drank much coffee almost daily. Gladys always welcomed friends and family to her home. In March, 2022 Gladys moved to the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home. She came to love all of her caregivers there and highly valued the professional and personal care she received.

She is survived by her son Jeff (Trudi) Nelson, Wentworth, SD and their two children Erik and Katie and spouses, and Kathie and (Steve) Arnold, Flower Mound, Texas and their four children, Stephanie, Seth, Sarah, LeAnn and spouses and 19 great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren.