WILLIAM H. PAULSEN

William (Bill) Herman Paulsen

86

Finley, North Dakota

June 14, 2025

William (Bill) Herman Paulsen, age 86, of Finley, ND, passed away peacefully in Hatton Prairie Village nursing home on Saturday, June 14, 2025. He was born on August 18, 1938 at Wimbledon, ND to William and Mabel (Backer) Paulsen. Bill was raised on a farm in rural Finley as the oldest with two brothers and a sister: Robert, Gary and Delores. He attended country elementary school in Sherbrooke for 8 years, graduated high school in Finley and graduated from UND with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1960.

After college Bill worked for a year on Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona before starting a career at FMC Corp in San Jose, California. Due to his knowledge of computers developed at UND, he became the first person at FMC, San Jose, to develop mechanical engineering solutions utilizing computers. Bill retired from FMC in 1995.

Bill was an active member of Ostervold Lutheran Church, rural Finley. He was known for his quiet manner, his work ethic, sense of responsibility and his great sense of humor to those who knew him best. He was always ready to help when someone was in need. After retiring, he was also known for his many inventions using his mechanical engineering knowledge.

Bill met his wife, Carolyn, when she joined FMC Corp in 1966 to work in the same department as Bill. They were married June 17, 1967 in California. Their honeymoon was a trip to the family farm in ND. They were privileged to become the parents of two sons, William and Eric. Bill loved his family very much.

In 1997 Bill and Carolyn moved back to North Dakota to the family farm to live out their retirement. They traveled throughout much of the U.S, including a train trip around the perimeter of the U.S., sailing through the Panama Canal and annual trips between California and North Dakota.

Bill is survived by his wife Carolyn; sons William (Lisa) and Eric (JoAnn) both of San Jose, CA; brother Robert (Christine) of Finley; sister Deloris (Apple Valley, MN); grandchildren: Cynthia, Charlotte and Ryder; Nephew and Niece: Stephen Paulsen, Amanda Dunkin,; and many, many cousins. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mabel Paulsen; brother and sister-in-law Gary and Janice Paulsen; and nephew David Paulsen.

A memorial service will be held at Ostervold Lutheran Church, at 2pm on July 9.

(3 miles north of Finley and East 1 mile.)