Paul Linseth
On the morning of June 25, 2020, Paul A. Linseth, 92, of Watford City, N.D., passed away of natural causes at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Watford City, in the company of his loving wife Vivian.
Paul was born Aug. 2, 1927 in Shafer, N.D., to Severine and Gudrun (Heim) Linseth. He was the sixth of 12 children. Growing up on the family farm in North Dakota with 11 siblings and one niece, Paul had a very full and exciting childhood that always centered around family. Paul was not the type to shy away from some good-natured mischief and teasing among siblings such as stealing food off your plate when you weren’t looking.
In the late 1940s, Paul met the love of his life, Vivian Renbarger. Vivian was the younger sister of his friends Arnold and Vernon Renbarger. The two were married in Williston, N.D., on June 17, 1950. It was the beginning of something truly special. Paul enlisted in the U.S. Army prior to the wedding and shortly after they exchanged vows, he left to begin his training. He served for four years in Texas and North Carolina. While stationed in Texas, they started their family with the birth of their daughter Shalisha. Upon Paul’s honorable discharge from the Army, they returned to North Dakota where Paul worked for the Farmers Union and eventually took up farming which was one of his greatest passions in life. The couple also saw their family grow with the additions of four sons: Savern, Shane, Sheldon, and Steven.
Paul retired from farming in 1992, and moved from the farm to their home in Watford City, where he turned his green thumb to growing bucket loads of his prized tomatoes and other plants in his garden. Retirement didn’t slow Paul down much, however. He was active in the American Legion Post No. 29 Drill Team, the McKenzie County Weed Board, and he still loved to spend time at the farm.
Paul’s favorite thing was to visit with friends and family and to make people laugh. Whether it was coffee down at the Farmers Union, lunch at the Café, or a family gathering with loved ones Paul could be counted on for a good story and a laugh. He loved spending time with his grandkids, chasing them around with one of his wigs on, telling one of his famous “when I was a little girl in Norway,” stories and occasionally stealing food off the kids’ plates.
In 2016, Paul and Vivian moved into the Good Shepherd Home together where they continued to enjoy visits from family and friends. Paul was notorious for teasing the nurses and prodding the now great-grandchildren with his cane. On June 17, 2020, Paul and Vivian celebrated 70 years of a faithful and happy marriage by renewing their wedding vows surrounded by family and friends.
Paul is survived by his wife, Vivian Linseth; children, Shalisha Quinnell, Severn, Shane (Brenda), Sheldon and Steven; brother, Jim Linseth; raised as a sister, Sheryl Lillibridge; 12 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Severine and Gudrun Linseth; brothers, Phillip, Omar, Gerald, Roland and Lynn; sisters, Ruth Anderson, Esther Gorder, Naomi Foreland, Edith Veeder and Judith Neer.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Good Shepherd Home, and Fulkerson-Stevenson Funeral Home.
Funeral services for Paul were held Tuesday, June 30, 2020, at the Johnson Corners Wesleyan Church with Pastor Jason Gressman officiating.
Interment with Military Honors by the National Honor Guard and the American Legion Drill Team of Watford City took place in the Johnson Corners Cemetery under the care of Fulkerson-Stevenson Funeral Home of Watford City. Remembrances, condolences and pictures may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com.