Paul Mikkelson

Paul D. Mikkelson, age 82, of Willmar, passed away Tuesday morning, Aug. 13, at Harrison Bay Senior Living in Mound following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug, 21, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Long Lake.  Interment will be at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery in Willmar with military honors provided by the Willmar American Legion Post #167.  Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church in Long Lake on Wednesday. www.petersonbrothrs.com

Paul Douglas Mikkelson was born on May 27, 1937, in Willmar, Minnesota, the son of Martin and Laura (Stumley) Mikkelson.  He grew up in Willmar, was baptized and confirmed at Vinje Lutheran Church and graduated from Willmar High School in 1955.  Paul attended St. Olaf College where he was a proud Ole-UM YAYA!   He then attended Business school in Colorado. From 1961 to 1963, Paul served in the U.S. Army.  On November 3, 1962, Paul was united in marriage to LaRue Janet Mickelson and they made their home in Hopkins.  Paul founded the first credit screening agency in the United States.  He owned and operated Rental Research and later Interstate Credit Control in Minneapolis.  In 2000, Paul passed on the businesses to his children and moved to Willmar where he established the Mikkelson Classic Boat Museum, specializing in the Larson Falls Flyer collection.

While living in Hopkins, Paul was an active member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church and later Vinje Lutheran Church when he moved to Willmar.  Paul volunteered at Vinje as a youth mentor and with the Vinje Brotherhood.  He loved to sing and was active in numerous barbershop chorus groups.  Paul was a past president of the National Association of Screening Agency (NASA).  He was an avid waterfowl hunter and a member of the Solomon Lake Hunt Club.  Paul was proud of his Republican affiliation and Norwegian heritage.  He will be best remembered for his strong faith in the Lord and unconditional love for his family.  Spending time with his grandchildren was one of his favorite things in the world.

He is survived by his wife, LaRue of Minneapolis; daughter, Laura Mikkelson of Maple Plain; son, Lee (and Jennifer) Mikkelson of Minnetonka; four grandchildren, Hunter, Elsa and Gunnar Larson and Matthew Mikkelson; and two brothers, Rev. John (and Muriel) Mikkelson of Menomonie, WI., and Richard (and Susan) Mikkelson of Stillwater, besides other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.