Paula Mertz

Paula Mertz, age 60, fell asleep in the arms of Jesus at home surrounded by family and friends on Monday, November 27, 2017. Paula Faye Erickson was born June 26, 1957, in Fargo to Kenneth and Betty Erickson of rural Kindred. Paula grew up on the secluded family farm south of Kindred where she loved skinning her knees and getting dirty dragging around puppies and kitties. She attended school in Kindred and graduated in 1975. Paula always loved music and was a talented trumpet and piano player and singer. She was also a pompom girl and active in 4H. Paula attended UND and graduated with a BSN in 1979. Paula worked for 32 years as a labor and delivery nurse where she was highly respected by her colleagues for her grace under pressure, leadership, and professionalism. Paula was a woman of faith and received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at a Bible Camp while in high school. She was active in every church she attended and served her church family by singing in choir, teaching Sunday School, directing VBS, and being an active Stephen Ministry Leader for almost 20 years. Paula was also active in leadership in Bible Study Fellowship. She followed Christ as a servant leader and caregiver in every aspect of life. Despite having rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years and then battling aggressive breast cancer for the past few years, Paula always had a sweet disposition and a positive attitude and was an encouragement to those around her. To know her was to love her. Paula met the love of her life at age 16 when they worked together as Bible camp counselors. Married in 1978, Monty and Paula lived in Grand Forks, Virginia, and Texas while Monty was in the Army JAGC. They established their roots in Fargo in 1985 where they raised their family and continued their careers. Paula and Monty enjoyed traveling and spending time in Minnesota lakes country. She was also known as and enjoyed being a wonderful cook and hostess. Paula will forever be remembered as a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Monty; daughter Meagan (Matthew) Jensen, their sons, Kade, Kallahan, and Kaspian, Glyndon, MN; son Taylor (Jessica) Mertz, their daughters, Grace and Lillian; brother Steven Erickson and sister Shelli (Roger) Conner, Mount Dora, FL; and many cousins and nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Kenneth and Betty Erickson, Kindred; grandparents, Theodore and Alma Erickson, Kindred, and James and Anna Quamme, rural Wahpeton; and precious granddaughter Kenadey Faye Jensen. Visitation will be at Boulger Funeral Home, Friday, December 1, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation again at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2017, with funeral at 11:00 a.m., at Salem Evangelical Free Church, East Campus, Moorhead, MN. Following fellowship and lunch, internment will be at Kindred Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please donate to Essentia Health Cancer Center, cancer research, or Hospice of the Red River Valley.