Paulette Franklin

Paulette Marie Nyhof was born on December 20, 1969, to Eugene and Joanne Nyhof, the youngest of three children. Arriving just days before Christmas, she was lovingly brought home from the hospital in a Christmas stocking. Paulette was baptized into Christ on January 11, 1970. Paulette lived a full life, grounded in her faith, and the love of family, friends, and caring for others.

Paulette graduated from Shanley High School Class of 1988, where she built lifelong friendships through her love of athletics. She was a dedicated competitor in fastpitch softball (third base), track (long jump, 200m and 400m), and especially basketball, which was her standout sport. Her basketball team dominated throughout the seasons and earned a third-place title in the state tournament. She played one season of college basketball at Moorhead State University.

Paulette spent her summers riding dirt bikes, tearing around in go-karts built by neighborhood dads, and attending summer camp along with a variety of summer sports programs. She had a deep appreciation for her grandfather, with whom she spent cherished time fishing and golfing. Her first job was delivering pizzas, and she was so quick behind the wheel that friends nicknamed her the Richard Petty of Fargo.

Paulette married Joe Franklin on October 3, 1992, a union of 32 years, 4 months, and seventeen days that was blessed with a daughter, a son, and numerous dogs. Together, they made their home at five addresses across Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo, covering a total moving distance of about 10 miles. They were members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Frazee, MN and later St Andrew Lutheran Church in West Fargo, ND where she served on the board of human care.

Over the years, Paulette wore many hats: grocery clerk, dry cleaner, florist, parts delivery driver, cleaning service provider, bank teller, homemaker, and mom. For the last 13 years, she worked in food service, preparing and serving meals to 300 elementary school children each day. She was the biggest fan of her kids activities, a dedicated mom who spent hours shuttling kids to practice, and she almost never missed a road game or safety meeting. One of her mottos was ‘go with the flow’.

Paulette enjoyed life’s simple pleasures. She loved time at the lake, playing pickleball, and relaxing by the pool. She liked to fish (but only if it was calm and sunny enough to tan). Paulette was a great listener. She cherished time with family, cozy fires, Elvis Presley music, cooking something special, and heartfelt conversations with friends (on a pontoon a plus). Paulette often lamented her home team’s transient moments of postseason hope but took pride in her fantasy football wins. Paulette was always cold. The thermostat never stood a chance. The Desert Southwest was her favorite destination after freeze-up.

Paulette was preceded in death by her cousins John Olmstead and Jason Lundblad; aunts Cheryl Lundblad and Nancy Nyhof; uncles Dennis Nyhof, Gary Nyhof, Rodney Laughlin, and Larry Breuer; and her grandparents, Ray and Frieda Nyhof, and Erik and Gertrude Carlson.

Paulette is survived by her husband, Joe; her daughter, Paige; and her son, Jack, all of West Fargo, North Dakota. Her parents, Eugene and Joanne Nyhof of Fargo; her brothers, Jim (Jenaah) of Oxbow and Brad (Sonja) of West Fargo; her brother-in-law, Tom (Natalie) Franklin of Vergas, Minnesota; and her sister-in-law, LuAnn Erickson of Fargo. She also leaves behind many dearly loved nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and dogs of all kinds.

It has pleased Almighty God to call from this veil of tears to Himself in heaven the soul of our sister, Paulette Marie (Nyhof) Franklin. Her final gift, rooted in Christ’s love, was the gift of life through organ donation. Paulette passed from death to life at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, surrounded by family, friends, and the Lord’s Word, on May 16th in the Year of our Lord 2025, having attained the age of 55 years, 4 months, and 27 days.

The Lord gives. The Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Amen.