John Q. Paulsen

John's service will be livestreamed here: https://www.firstpresfargo.org/live-stream

His tribute video may be viewed here: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/N99DM2TMMZN6TXS3

John Q. Paulsen, 95, of Fargo, passed away in the care of Ethos Hospice at Bethany Retirement Living on Monday, February 19, 2024. He was born in Fargo on October 24, 1928, the son of Judge and Mrs. P.M. Paulsen. A lifelong Fargoan, he attended Fargo Public Schools, graduating from Central High School in 1946. He graduated from NDSU, where he was editor of the Spectrum, and recipient of the Blue Key Scholarship Award. He was named an Outstanding Senior in 1950.

He married his high school sweetheart, Margo Brunskill, in Fargo on June 15, 1950. She died on October 14, 1996.

Paulsen joined the administrative staff of the Fargo Clinic in 1950, spending nearly 45 years with that institution. He served as associate administrator of the Clinic until 1980, when he was named to head the Clinic's administrative staff as Executive Vice President, serving in that capacity until his retirement on December 31, 1994.

During his tenure, the physician population grew from 130 doctors practicing at the original site on North Broadway to a physician group of 275, practicing in 30 locations. The rapid growth saw Fargo Clinic become one of the 15 largest group practices in the United States.

He was intimately involved in creating the 1993 merger of Fargo Clinic with St. Luke's Hospitals, out of which the Clinic became MeritCare Medical Group, which ultimately merged with Sanford Health in 2009.

In 1964, the Fargo Jaycees named him Fargo's Outstanding Young Man of the Year, and in 2010 he received the FM Chamber Legacy Leader Award.

He spent nine years on the Fargo Board of Education, serving as President and in 2004, North Dakota Governor John Hoeven appointed him to a four-year term as a member of the State Board of Higher Education.

He served on several civic and charitable boards during his lifetime, among them the Fargo Public Library, FM Symphony, the YMCA, Fargo Chamber of Commerce, the Plains Art Museum, and Prairie Public Broadcasting. He served twenty years on the Fargo Planning Commission, as Chair for most of them.

Paulsen was a Trustee of the NDSU Development Foundation, serving as President for two years. In 2002, the University awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church for almost 75 years, joining when he married Margo.

Paulsen was an avid golfer and tennis player and enjoyed traveling, but his special love was for his family. His son Jim and daughter-in-law Kim live in Kansas City, and his daughter Jean lives in Minneapolis. A son, John Miller Paulsen, died on June 6, 2003. His granddaughter, Hannah and her husband Tom Cunningham live in Kansas City with their three children, Margo, Henry and Jimmy. A grandson, John Wilson Paulsen died on May 18, 2019.

He had a great life and many lifelong friends who he treasured. He loved spending time at the lake with family and friends.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful and caring staff of Touchmark, where he lived for several years, Bethany Retirement Living Memory Care Unit, where he lived for the last 14 months, and Ethos Hospice, who cared for him during his final months.

Memorials are preferred to First Presbyterian Church of Fargo and NDSU Development Foundation.

Funeral Service: 11am, Saturday, February 24, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church, Fargo, ND with a visitation one hour prior. The service will be livestreamed on the funeral home website.

Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, ND.

Arrangements entrusted to Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home - Fargo, ND