William J. Paulsen

William Joseph Paulsen, 59, of Elk Point, South Dakota, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. A Celebration of Life will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at The Pointe Golf & Event Center (100 Truman Lane) in Elk Point, SD. The family requests that anyone attending the celebration wear their favorite athletic team shirt. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for future designation. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Pender, NE.

William “Bill” was born “6 from the top and 5 from the bottom”, as he would describe his chronological age order in his family on August 22, 1965, in Pender, NE, to Orville and Rosemarie “Sis” (Becker) Paulsen. Bill was an active child, playing every sport possible and enjoying every moment outdoors, even if it meant searching for “Big Foot”. Bill attended and graduated from Emerson High School in 1984. He continued his education at South Dakota State University in Brookings, where he earned his bachelor’s degree but do to his children all attending the University of South Dakota; he became a lifelong Coyotes fan. After graduating from college, Bill married Amy Swanson on February 23, 1990, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Emerson. Together, the couple had 3 children.

Bill was the owner and operator of Paulsen Midwest Landscaping in Elk Point. He was a very creative individual with a great sense of humor. His personality was larger than life itself and led to many great adventures that usually ended with a great laugh. Bill would frequently call friends and family early in the morning and plan his day around those conversations. Bill was frequently spotted walking around Scheels and Menards. But if for some reason, you couldn’t find him there, Snapchat would tell you his location or a quick glimpse of what he was doing.

Bill loved his family and spent as much time as possible with them outdoors. He enjoyed going to the River Lot House and bonding with his wife and camping with his siblings and their families. His love was endless, and his passion for the outdoors was contagious. Bill went on several hunting trips all over North America in pursuit of big game animals. He was an avid fisherman and loved the wilderness around him. Bill rode his Harley-Davidson to the Sturgis Rally in South Dakota multiple times and enjoyed riding through the mountains. Bill was always on the move; he attended as many of his children’s sporting activities as possible as well as collegiate games. He was a huge Nebraska Cornhusker fan, USD Coyotes fan, and LSU Tigers fan. If Bill was in the house, he would always have a TV on watching sports, especially Track and Field events.

Bill is survived by his wife, Amy Paulsen of Elk Point, SD; daughters, Kelsie (Travis) Carter of Valley City, ND, Brittany (Chris) Morriss of Baton Rouge, LA; son, Hunter Paulsen (Abby Frommelt) of Manhattan, KS; grandchildren, Henry Carter, Clayton Morriss, Brynnley Morris; mother, Rosemarie “Sis” Paulsen of Emerson, NE; special family friend, Mark McTaggert of Lincoln, NE and his children, Penelope McTaggert, Declan McTaggert; sisters, Bert (Scott) Sorensen of North Sioux City, SD, Denise (Lee) Roeber of Emerson, NE, Sara Paulsen (Abbie Reed) of Omaha, NE, Carla (Russ) Bokemper of Vermillion, SD; brothers, Robert Paulsen of Springfield, SD, Tom (Toni) Paulsen of Auroa, CO, Glen (Marie) Paulsen of Emerson, NE, Ray (Laurie) Paulsen, of Crete, NE, Steve Paulsen of Pender, NE; father & mother-in-law, Mike and Jan Swanson of Sioux City, IA; brothers-in-law, Kirk (Michelle) Swanson of Sioux City, IA, Chris (Larissa) Swanson of Dakota Dunes, SD; sisters-in-law, Nikki (Mike) Nieman of Sioux City, IA, Becky (Corey) Steeg of Sioux City, IA; many nieces and nephews.

Bill is preceded in death by his father, Orville Paulsen; grandson, Asher Morriss; and nephew, Nathan Paulsen.