Paul E. Lindholm, 89

Paul E. Lindholm

Fergus Falls Paul E. Lindholm, age 89, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, after several years of Lewy body dementia, at Homestead Pioneer Cottage. The eldest of five children, he was born June 23, 1928, to David and Helen (Johnson) Lindholm on his grandfather Peter’s homestead farm nine miles north of Ortonville, near Big Stone Lake.

At age 13, Paul hauled cattle on his own to South St. Paul, sold them, and bought calves to feed back home. He entered into partnership on the family farm with his father and brother Stanley as a teenager, and was national Vice President of Future Farmers of America while in high school.

In 1948, he married Ruth Rhoads and farmed with his father David until Stanley returned from military service in France. Paul then completed a factory management degree in two years at the University of Minnesota. After interviewing with several companies, he took a position at Farmer’s State Bank of Madelia, where he served as teller and ran bookkeeping functions.

After two and a half years, on a dare from a friend, he applied for the position of President at Blue Earth State Bank. He served there from 1960 – 1979, when the bank was sold. He then acquired Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Clarkfield, working with his son Steve. During the 1980s, he was Chair of the American Bankers Association Ag Committee, and helped draft legislation at the national level to deal with the ag crisis.

Paul acquired Security State Bank of Fergus Falls in 1988. Its assets increased fourfold before he sold it to Steve in 2012. During that time, he was also Chairman of the Minnesota Bankers Association.

Paul’s mission was to help farmers and communities reach their financial potential. He was also deeply concerned about those who were less fortunate, in his own community and around the world.

He went on many mission trips and gave generously to those in need. On his travels he loved hearing other people’s stories. He loved to tell his story to others, and he loved including the story of Jesus in these conversations.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth (Rhoads) in 2015; and brother Stanley in 2017.

Survivors include brothers, Loren and John; sister, Lorraine Ryberg; children, Rebecca, Steve (Mary Jane), John (Patricia), Matthew (Meg); grandchildren, Sarah, Melissa (Alex), Erik (Stephanie), Sophia, Nicholas, Gabe, Lucia; great-grandchildren, Riley and Nora; and many dear relatives and friends.

Service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at Bethel Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls. Clergy were Reverends John Lindholm and David Foss

Interment was held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at Swedish Mission Cemetery on the Lindholm farm nine miles north of Ortonville in Prior Township overlooking Big Stone Lake.

Arrangements were provided by the Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls

Online condolences may be sent to www.OlsonFuneralHome.com