Paul Anthony Erschens
05/12/1929 - 02/9/2016
Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery, Elkton, SD
Paul was born on May 12, 1929 in rural Lincoln County, Minnesota as the first born son to Frank Mathias and Agnes Katherine (Dowdle) Erschens. He grew up and lived on the family farm in Drammen Township in Minnesota during the depression and the 'Dirty 30's'. Paul was baptized in 1929 and received his first communion and confirmation at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church (Elkton, SD) in 1939. He attended District 62 Country School through the 8th grade (as the only student in his grade) and then graduated from Lake Benton High School in 1947. He farmed with his father until he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1955 where he served during the Korean War. He was married on September 24, 1955 to Lois Louise Veire at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. He was discharged from the Army on February 8, 1957 and returned to the Elkton area to farm. Paul and Lois raised their 5 boys (David, Steven, Alan, Phil, and Neal) to value hard work and to take pride in their accomplishments. Paul was a director of the Production Credit Association of Marshall, MN, the Farmers Elevator, Hope Mutual Insurance Company, and was a life-time member of Our Lady of Good Council Catholic Church. He served on the wind power task force to develop criteria for wind development on the Buffalo Ridge area. Paul was very talented in many ways. He was adept at repairing and restoring anything and very innovative in the methodology used to complete the task - often fabricating his own tools and parts to get the exact result he envisioned. He was very particular in everything he did and that it was done to his satisfaction. His was proud of his farm home and his farm life.
(Survivor's at the time of death): Paul was survived by his wife, Lois, his five sons. 13 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mariam Nielsen, his half-sisters Helen Porter and Leona Young, his grandson Mathias Erschens and his granddaughter Stacy Erschens.
