Muriel Leona Puhler was born on October 19th, 1931 to William and Thea (Vennes) Puhler at Brinsmade, ND. The family sold the farm and bought a grocery store in Milton, ND, in 1937. Muriel and her parents, brothers Byron and Kenneth, Grandmother Vennes, and Grandfather Puhler moved to Milton, where everyone helped in the grocery store. Muriel attended 12 years of public school, graduating from Milton High School in 1949. Muriel then attended Mayville State Teachers College, graduating in 1951 with a standard teacher’s license. Muriel’s first teaching position was in Minnewaukan, ND.
On June 13th, 1954, Muriel was united in marriage to Harlan Don Paulson of rural Milton. Muriel and Harlan made their home in Edinburg, ND. Muriel taught in Park River, ND, for one year. Their only child, Marla Kay, was born on August 2nd, 1955. Muriel resumed her teaching career in 1956, teaching 1st grade in Edinburg until she retired from teaching in 1975. Muriel and Harlan had a Bakke home built and moved to their farm in the fall of 1975; Harlan continued to farm for several more years. Harlan and Muriel enjoyed traveling. They took several bus tours, a cruise, and a Hawaiian vacation. They also enjoyed driving through the Southwest, visiting Muriel’s brother Byron and wife Beth in Tucson, AZ, and Muriel's brother Kenneth and wife Minnie in Grand Junction, Colorado. Harlan passed on August 5th, 2008.
Muriel remained on the farm for a year and then had their house moved to a lot in Edinburg in 2009. Muriel enjoyed lunches at the Senior Center, card games with friends, casino bus trips, and BINGO. Muriel was an active Trinity Lutheran Church member and a member of the Legion Auxiliary. Muriel moved to Alexandria, MN, in June 2015 to be near her daughter and family and resided in an apartment at Windmill Ponds, a senior living community. She moved to Diamond Willow Assisted Living in March 2018; while living at Diamond Willow, Muriel enjoyed the companionship of “Sam,” the facility cat. Muriel passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of November 29th, 2023, in her bed at Diamond Willow. Muriel was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
She is survived by her daughter, Marla (Jeff) Colton of Eagle Bend, MN, Granddaughter Kaye (Rawley) Kriel, great-grandson Robert Kriel of Glenwood, MN, and Grandson Sean (Cora Burst) Colton, Vancouver, WA.
Funeral Services will be on Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.at Trinity Lutheran Church of Edinburg, ND. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be at Milton Memorial Cemetery in the spring.
On June 13th, 1954, Muriel was united in marriage to Harlan Don Paulson of rural Milton. Muriel and Harlan made their home in Edinburg, ND. Muriel taught in Park River, ND, for one year. Their only child, Marla Kay, was born on August 2nd, 1955. Muriel resumed her teaching career in 1956, teaching 1st grade in Edinburg until she retired from teaching in 1975. Muriel and Harlan had a Bakke home built and moved to their farm in the fall of 1975; Harlan continued to farm for several more years. Harlan and Muriel enjoyed traveling. They took several bus tours, a cruise, and a Hawaiian vacation. They also enjoyed driving through the Southwest, visiting Muriel’s brother Byron and wife Beth in Tucson, AZ, and Muriel's brother Kenneth and wife Minnie in Grand Junction, Colorado. Harlan passed on August 5th, 2008.
Muriel remained on the farm for a year and then had their house moved to a lot in Edinburg in 2009. Muriel enjoyed lunches at the Senior Center, card games with friends, casino bus trips, and BINGO. Muriel was an active Trinity Lutheran Church member and a member of the Legion Auxiliary. Muriel moved to Alexandria, MN, in June 2015 to be near her daughter and family and resided in an apartment at Windmill Ponds, a senior living community. She moved to Diamond Willow Assisted Living in March 2018; while living at Diamond Willow, Muriel enjoyed the companionship of “Sam,” the facility cat. Muriel passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of November 29th, 2023, in her bed at Diamond Willow. Muriel was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
She is survived by her daughter, Marla (Jeff) Colton of Eagle Bend, MN, Granddaughter Kaye (Rawley) Kriel, great-grandson Robert Kriel of Glenwood, MN, and Grandson Sean (Cora Burst) Colton, Vancouver, WA.
Funeral Services will be on Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.at Trinity Lutheran Church of Edinburg, ND. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be at Milton Memorial Cemetery in the spring.