Mary Lou Paulson, 94, died Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at her home in Rapid City.

Mary Lou Bailey Paulson was born October 14, 1930 to Timothy and Stella Bailey in Kingsville, Missouri. She attended grade school in Holden, Missouri. Shortly after World War II began she and her mother moved to Topeka, Kansas where she completed ninth grade. In the fall of 1946, another move took her to North Platte, Nebraska and eventually to El Monte, California where she graduated from high school in 1948. In September 1948 Mary Lou entered nurses training at Sacred Heart School of Nursing at Yankton, South Dakota, graduating in 1951. In 1953 she was invited by friend Ina Chase to come along to Rapid City and has lived here since. She married Glenn Paulson on October 14, 1954 at Trinity Lutheran Church. To this union was born their only child, Jayne Marie.

Mary Lou worked at St. John' McNamara Hospital and the Rapid City Medical Center as office nurse for Dr. J. D. Bailey and at the Urological Clinic of Rapid City as office nurse for Dr. Roger Millea, retiring in 1993. Prior to retirement she took the volunteer training course for Hospice of the Hills remaining until 2006.

A passion for gardening culminated with taking the SDSU Master Gardener course in 1997. Following that she volunteered for several projects and especially enjoyed planning and working at the Herb Garden located near the Sundial in Nordemeer Gardens. Growing and using herbs were the focus of her attention in the gardens where ever she has lived.

Mary Lou in survived by daughter Jayne (Andy) Marso and many cousins in Poland.

She is preceded in death by her parents and husband Glenn Paulson who died in July of 2018.

Memorial Services and Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home with Pastor Jill Jennewein presiding.

Burial Service will be held at 3:00 pm at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.