Paul F. Svennungsen, 87

Paul F. Svennungsen, a longtime resident of Shelby, “passed into the loving arms of Jesus” on March 2, 2011, in Chesapeake, Va., where he and his wife, Sheila, lived with their daughter, Joyce Black and her family.

Paul, the youngest in a family of nine children, was born on April 5, 1923, in Worthington, Minn., to the Rev. David and Kari Svennungsen. At the age of five, the family moved to Montana so that David, a Lutheran pastor, could begin a pastorate at Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy. Paul grew up in Big Sandy, graduating from Big Sandy High School, with an outstanding career as a basketball and football player. He also played tuba in the band.

After high school, Paul enlisted in the Army and served as a radio technician in Europe during World War II. After returning to the United States, Paul worked for the post office and Dave's Grocery in Shelby. He married Sheila Buckland, a native of Shelby, on April 15, 1949, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Paul and his brother, Arthur, then opened a cleaning shop in Big Sandy. During the four years Paul and Sheila lived in Big Sandy, Eric and Paula, two of their four children were born. They then returned to Shelby so that Paul could begin work with Eddie’s Bakery. Two more daughters, Joyce and Sheilah, joined the family.

 Paul was an avid golfer, an active member of St. Luke's Lutheran church, teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir, a member of the Oilfield Men's Chorus, a past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a participant in community theater, particularly with a lead role in The Music Man in his later years.

 Paul is survived by his wife, Sheila, of 62 years; and four children, Eric and Sherry Svennungsen of Kalispell, Paula and Rick Hartwig of Salem, Ore., Joyce and Ron Black of Chesapeake, Va., and Sheilah and Gary Gall of Cameron Park, Calif.; 15 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Paul is also survived by his brother, Amos and Mary Svennungsen of Kalispell.

A memorial service will be scheduled in the summer in Montana.