Longtime Sturgis resident Ruth Lillian Paulson died on Saturday, January 31, 2026, in Eureka, South Dakota, at 101 years old. She was born in Divide County, North Dakota, on October 10, 1924, to Adolph and Larsina Stene, who each immigrated to the United States from Norway with their families in 1900. Ruth was raised on a farm with her six siblings and attended school in Fortuna, ND.
In 1947, she married Maynard Paulson on her birthday, and they made their home in Fortuna. Here, they welcomed a daughter, Kerry, in 1949 and a son, Harvey, in 1951. Later that year, they moved their family to Minot, ND, where they lived until 1960. While living there, a daughter, Nancy, was born in 1955, completing their family.
In 1960, they made their final move to Sturgis, SD. When her three children were all in school, Ruth entered the world of working women. She worked as a Dental Assistant for Dr. Robert Wood, DDS, for about 15 years. She then worked at the Elk Creek Conservation District for 11 years before retiring.
Ruth was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church, participating in the Ladies Aid and Circle. She enjoyed helping with the Father/Son Banquet and serving breakfast in the Fellowship Hall to the bikers during the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally. But working with the Quilting ladies was what she enjoyed the most. One year, she gathered a number of old Rally t-shirts to make a quilt to be sold during the Rally. It was such a hit that they were taking orders for more! It eventually became a major fundraiser for the church!
Along with quilting, Ruth’s other talents included gardening and doing Jigsaw puzzles. She was an avid reader and made the best-ever Caramel Rolls!
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Maynard; her sister, Borghild Bervig; her brothers, Adolph, Obert, Tonnes, Percy & Bruce Stene; and her grandson, Forrest Paulson.
She is survived by her children, Kerry Murray (Mike), Warsaw, MO; Harvey Paulson (Lois), Belle Fourche, SD; and Nancy Krein (Gary), Eureka, SD. Grandchildren, Josh Murray (Emily), Omaha, NE; Lindsey Murray, Cambridge, England; Jammie Kokesh (Dan) Long Lake, MN; Brooke Chastain (Jeff) Rapid City, SD; Clay Paulson Spearfish, SD, J.D. Krein (Stephanie) Sudbury, MA; Hilary Nicolls (Dan), Golden, CO.  Great-grandchildren: Elizabeth Murray, Alyssa Fall, Karlee Paulson, Hannah and Eddie Chastain, Brandee Skroch, Henrietta and Alexander Krein, Tatum and Johnny Nicolls. Great-great-grandchildren Bentlee and LillyAnna Skroch, and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be on Friday, February 6, 2026, 12:00 – 1:00 pm at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 pm. Burial will be held at 2:30 pm at Black Hills National Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.
