Paula Joan Christopherson

Paula Joan (Esau) Christopherson

I wish you could read this under better circumstances, for I passed into the great beyond on Friday March 7th, 2025.

This is not to say that I haven’t had a full life. I was in what they called the “greatest generation”. My parents were Theodore and Helen (Wethal) Esau. I was especially fortunate to have a very intelligent and caring mother, who gave me a lot of good advice, and taught me compassion and common sense. I had two brothers, Russell (Lois), four years older, and Ted, Jr. (Sally), four years younger. They are all deceased.

I’ve been surrounded by incredible family and friends ever since my debut in Mountain Lake, MN on July 5, 1925. I don’t remember a lot, but I know it was a struggle through The Depression. We moved to Iowa, Minneapolis, Le Sueur and Saint Paul.

At 16 years old, I graduated from Le Sueur high school. The following week I was offered a job at the telephone company. My folks moved to Saint Paul, and I was transferred to the long-distance telephone office in Saint Paul.

Eventually I got a job in the Gedney Pickle office. Being the humorous soul that I am, sometimes when asked about my job, I’d tell them “I shaved the warts off the pickles!” – But good things came from working there: I met my husband, Ralph. How else? But over a pickle barrel. He just returned from serving 5 years in the Army (WWII) and was visiting the shipping clerk. I had to check an order, and we met.

After a whirlwind romance we married on May 20, 1946. He was a good husband and a great father to our eight children. We were married almost 51 years until he died in 1997 from cancer. We travelled with our kids, towing our second-hand Air Stream from East Coast to West Coast, up into Canada to EXPO ’67 and down to the end of the Keys in Florida. Also, we would take it to the lake and pitch a big tent beside it.

Our beloved children are Susan (deceased 2016), Mark (deceased 1991), Timothy, Peter, Paul (deceased 2021), (Deb), Charles (Tara Sweeney), Marcia, and Amy (Shane). Our cherished grandchildren are Nate (Siri Knutson), Joe (Arnaud Simon), Grady (Colleen) and Rozlyn, and great-grandchildren Maria and Per. My family also includes my niece Judy (Peter) and nephews Randall (deceased 1969), Eric (Kari) and Reed, and many cousins.

After being widowed for four years, I met Blake Sower, when playing bridge, who was my faithful companion and dearest friend for over 20 years until he passed away in 2021. I enjoyed Blake’s family: Gehry (Jan), Ken (Suzie, deceased 2023), Annalee (Dave) and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

My primary commitment was the well-being, care and happiness of my husband and children. We were so proud of all our children. They’re all well-educated and have interesting and full lives.

I enjoyed all life’s blessings. I was born into my father’s Mennonite family and lived on the farm until we moved to Iowa. I was baptized in the Lutheran church in Rembrandt, IA, confirmed in the Lutheran church in Le Sueur and married Ralph at St. Louis Catholic Church in Saint Paul, and was a practicing Catholic for 55 years. I joined the Methodist Church to participate with Blake until he passed away in 2021. Since that time, I have been attending services at the Lyngblomsten Chapel in Saint Paul.

Besides family first, I’ve enjoyed golf, music, gardening, bridge, dancing, cribbage, poetry, collecting, and decorating our various homes. It was truly a fascinating life. I did thank God each day of my life here on earth.

Now I leave you with one final thought: live life to the fullest, and marvel at the joy of God’s gifts and remember to thank Him. I thank you for the love each have shown, but now it’s time I travel alone. “The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.”

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Paula’s family is extremely grateful for the compassionate and professional care she received while she resided at The Heritage Assisted Living Apartments and in the Dorothea Neighborhood of the Lyngblomsten Care Center.

Her family is planning a 100th birthday celebration of Paula’s life at Lyngblomsten Chapel in Saint Paul on Saturday July 5, 2025. More details will be provided at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Lyngblomsten Foundation, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, or to a charitable organization of your choice.