Paul A. Erschens, age 86, died Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls. Paul was born May 12, 1929 in rural Lincoln County, Minnesota to Frank Mathias and Agnes Katherine Dowdle. He grew up and lived on the family farm in Drammen Township in Minnesota during the depression and the "Dirty 30s." Paul was baptized in 1929 and received his first communion and confirmation at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church 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 in 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 was a director of the Production Credit Association of Marshall, MN, the Farmers Elevator and Hope Mutual Insurance and was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. He served on the wind power taskforce to develop criteria for wind development on the Buffalo Ridge. Paul was very talented in many ways. He enjoyed repairing and restoring. He could fix absolutely anything and was very innovative, often fabricating his own tools and parts, as needed for different projects. He was very particular in everything he did and that it was done to his satisfaction. He was proud of his farm home and his farm life.

Paul is survived by his wife, Lois of Elkton; his five sons, Dave (Valerie) of Lake Benton, MN, Steve (Kathy) of Sioux Falls, SD, Alan (Carol) of Grimes, IA, Phil of Champlin, MN and Neal (Elizabeth) of Chesapeake, VA; 13 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; 5 step-grandchildren and 7 step-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mariann Nielsen, his half sisters Helen Porter and Leona Young, his grandson Mathias Erschens and his granddaughter Stacy Erschens.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 13, 2016 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Elkton with burial to be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Elkton. Visitation will be Friday, February 12 from 5-7 p.m. with a wake service at 7 p.m. at the church.
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