A funeral service will be held at 11am on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at Nora Unitarian Universalist Church in rural Hanska. Burial will follow in Mount Pisqua Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4-7pm on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – North chapel and will continue from 10-11am on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at Nora Unitarian Universalist church, prior to the service.

To leave an online condolence for her family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

Kristine is survived by her husband, Warren Paulson of Hanska; daughter, Kristy and partner Brad Wieland of New Ulm; sons and daughters-in-law, Randy Paulson and Teresa Battaglia of Pacific Palisades, CA, Todd and Elizabeth Paulson of Winona; five grandchildren, Cole Spilde of Fargo, ND, Sawyer Paulson of Chicago, IL, Ava Paulson of New York, NY, Carey Paulson of St. Paul, Eric Paulson of Duluth; 1 great-grandchild, Celeste Spilde of Fargo; sister-in-law, Kathy Erickson of Hanska; many in-laws, other relatives and countless friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Burnis and Adelia Erickson; sister and brother-in-law, Bonita and Algot Blomquist; and brother, Jerome Erickson.

Kristine Sigrid Erickson was born on November 15, 1940 in New Ulm to Burnis and Adelia (Haugen) Erickson. She graduated from Hanska High School in 1958 and moved to Minneapolis where she worked as a bookkeeper for Lavoris Mouthwash Company for a year. She then moved back to Hanska to marry the love of her life, Warren “Charlie” Paulson. On June 4, 1960 she was united in marriage to Warren at the Nora Unitarian Universalist Church in Hanska. Kristine worked at B.F. Goodrich in New Ulm for many years before deciding to attend college in the early 1980’s. She was considered a non-traditional student, a fact she was immensely proud of. She enrolled at Mankato State University and graduated with a degree in Sociology with academic honors. Following college, she worked for a number of companies in the New Ulm area, including New Ulm Chiropractic and Lutheran Disaster Relief, as well as FEMA and the Census. Later in her career, Kristine worked as a home health aide, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Kristine was a lifelong member of her beloved Nora Church where she was a mentor to many and an “advisor” to all. She also enjoyed organizing and delivering Sunday services when the opportunity afforded itself.

Kristine was a lifelong learner, a champion of the underdog, a lover of all creatures, a seeker of justice and a friend to all she met. Warren and Kristine were blessed to be able to travel to many places around the globe with family and friends, but their greatest satisfaction came from the years spent on the farm raising their family and in their retirement. She always looked forward to visits from her grandchildren and recently great-granddaughter, and was so proud of the young men and women they have become – she referred to them as her greatest legacy. Kristine spent most of the last year of her life at Oak Hills Living Center and, which surprises no one, created many special bonds there as well.

As Kristine wrote in 1992:

If by chance I could read my own obituary, I would hope it would say, “Kristine Paulson spent her soul in her own klutzy way and the universe may just be a little richer because she poured out all of the laughter, tears, love and compassion she was able.”

What a gift she was!

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Adler and staff at the New Ulm Medical Center and her “new family” at Oak Hills Living Center. Your care and compassion are more than appreciated.

Memorials preferred to Nora Unitarian Church and Brown County Humane Society.

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