Education:
Herman Elementary School, Herman, MN - kindergarten thru 6th grades.
Herman High School - 7th grade.
Brandon Jr. High School, Brandon, SD - 7th, and 8th grades.
Axtell Park Jr. High School, Sioux Falls, SD - 9th grade.
Washington Sr. High School, Sioux Falls - 10th thru 12th grades.
Augustana College, Sioux Falls - June '86 to May '90. No religious endorsement implied.
North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND - Aug. '90 to Aug. '92.
Dakota Baptist Bible Institute, Fargo - Jan. '93 to May '99.Fishing:
Pine Ridge Park (Herman area) was one of our favorite fishing spots. It seemed like we (just the boys) drove there on our bikes every free day in the summer time. Ten miles of biking per day really tired us out. This was back in the "old days" of course. Social services would have never put up with what we did then on our own. Crappies, northerns, and perch were the real fishes to catch. Unfortunately, many times we had to settle for bullheads with a hard to land carp here and there.
Ice fishing was always interesting. Once I got my foot stuck in the hole while trying to break up the ice. Another time I actually won a drawing for a prize at a derby; I think I got a fish stringer. I remember enduring through several cold and snowy annual derbies never catching anything. Neither did most of the others. The fish wouldn't cooperate. Maybe we were just too much stubborn Norwegians...maybe.
Matthew 4:19 "And he [Jesus] saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."Gardening:
While in Herman we always had a huge garden in the back yard. We would grow a variety of vegetables including: Asparagus, beets, butter cup squash, cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, green beans, onions, potatoes, pumpkins, straw berries, sweet corn, tomatoes, etc.
Matthew 9:37-38 "Then saith he [Jesus] unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; (38)Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."Gopher trapping:
My oldest brother Bruce taught us how to catch gophers. There were generally two such methods to learn. The local farmers in one way or another paid us so much for the feet. A pocket gopher would bring the most money around 50 cents. That was pretty good for kids then (before 1981). One of the farmers living just outside Herman's city limits was especially friendly to us boys. He would allow us to explore his fields, etc.
Ecclesiastes 9:12 "For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them."Hobbies:
Coin collecting, and Stamp collecting.
I started collecting United States coins and stamps around 1978. I could buy on occassion mint stamps down at the Herman Post Office.
We would go to the local Herman bank on a more or less rotating basis to exchange penny and nickel rolls. This bank was very friendly and willing to help us out and do us a service at no charge. Once my brother Bruce came home from the bank with a whole slug of older silver coins (dimes, quarters and halves). No kidding. This was right before the silver prices were exchanging at 20 or more times the face value. I got in on the end of the deal being that Bruce didn't even have enough cash on hand to buy out the remaining silver pieces available. Boy were we lucky we thought that day. Of course there is no such thing as good or bad luck but back then we were ignorant.
Especially during the last half of the 1980's the big downtown Sioux Falls P. O. was a favorite and frequent stop for me and Mike.Music:
Band: 5th thru 9th grades. Herman, Brandon and Sioux Falls.
Choir: 7th grade. Herman.
Stage Band: 9th grade. Sioux Falls.
Marching Band: 10th thru 12th grades. Sioux Falls.
Wind Ensemble: 10th thru 12th grades. Sioux Falls.
Band Trip: Summer 1984. Europe (Mainly Austria, Switzerland, & West Germany. But also France & Italy.)
Orchestra: 11th, and 12th grades. Sioux Falls. Informal practice for me before school started.
All-State Orchestra: 12th grade. Watertown, SD.
[Dad played clarinet, mom coronet, Bruce clarinet thru H. S., David tried trombone, Kevin percussion, Mike baritone, and Brian trumpet even in college.]
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;"Paper Routes:
We delivered newspapers in Herman for a number of years. These included the Fergus Falls Daily Journal, Midwest? shopper, and Minneapolis Star & Tribune. After working the routes and collecting the money we made about a dollar per day. I gained some valuable experience of how to deal with people and unfriendly dogs.
Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."Patriotism:
My father served the United States of America in the Armed Forces. He was 6 months of active duty in Army and 7 & 1/2 years in the Reserves (Honorably Discharged April 1964). He is a true veteran as far as I am concerned. He has never really mentioned it too much to the immediate family. I do know that back when we were both younger he would march in the local parades and attend the memorial ceremonies regularly. One day I had hoped he would put down in words his very own experiences serving in places like Ft. Knox, etc.
Our freedom to express Biblical and Christian views is not to be taken for granted.
2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."Reading:
My mother Amy was probably the most influential in me gaining an interest in reading from a young age. A book-mobile was often available in the summers. We would even loan library books through the U. S. mail service.
My favorite book is the King James Bible. Here are some other good Christian books I've found worth studying.Scouting:
My second oldest brother David and I were in Cub Scouts. We would meet at the Koser's farm in rural Herman. We had lots of fun making and eating things. My dad Allen helped each of us make a pine wood racing car. He was one of the official race starters. I can remember dad getting his picture in the Herman Review newspaper for helping out.
I was later in Boy Scouts around 7th grade. Mr. Kennedy was the leader. I really liked the outdoor camping and games.Sports:
Baseball: Summers (age 5? to '81). Herman and Brandon.
Basketball: 7th, and 9th grades. Herman and Sioux Falls.
Cross Country: 12th grade only. Sioux Falls. WSHS. Coach Mark Greeno. Received an award for being the most improved runner.
Football:
7th grade. Herman. Coach Gary Magnuson.
8th grade. Brandon.
11th grade. Sioux Falls. WSHS. I didn't actually ever play one single down in a varsity game during the whole Fall.
The coaches seemed like they had already made up their minds pretty much before the season even started who would play in regular season games.
Punt, Pass and Kick:
'76 to '80. Herman. Local competition.
'76, and '78. Moorhead, MN. State-wide competition.
A huge photograph of myself appeared in the Fargo Forum ('76) when I was
only eight years old. I received copies of this "throwing the bomb - a football"
from several Herman people.
Swimming Lessons: Summers ('75? to '81). Wheaton, Chokio, and Luvern -- all MN.
Track & Field:
'76 to '80. Herman. These were single day competitions.
7th, and 8th grades. Brandon.
9th grade. Sioux Falls.
10th thru 12th grades. Sioux Falls. WSHS. Competed at the State Meet in -
200 meter dash (9th place '84).
4x200 meter relay (3rd place '85).
400 meter dash (3rd place '86),
4x200 meter relay (1st place & state meet record for all classes '86) and
4x400 meter relay (2nd place '86).
'87, '88, and '90. Sioux Falls. College competitions at
Drake Relays; Howard Wood Relays; Kansas Relays;
Minnesota State University, Minneapolis; North Dakota State University;
Sioux City Relays; University of North Dakota; University of South Dakota;
among others.
Weight Lifting: 11th, and 12th grades. Sioux Falls.
Wrestling:
4th, and 6th grades. Herman.
8th grade. Brandon.
Hebrews 12:1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us , and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"Work:
See reslett.htm & resume.htm.Kevin Paul.
2030 West Main Street
VC, ND 58072
aaa.845.9220
klpaulson1@juno.com
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