Paul Howard Fugleberg, 86

Paul Howard Fugleberg of Polson, 86, passed away Sunday, March 5, 2017, of natural causes. He was surrounded by his loving family.

Paul was born May 8, 1930, to Amelia and Paul Jonathan Fugleberg in Hollywood, California. Following the untimely death of his father, his mother remarried, after which he was joined in the world by younger brother, Norman.

Paul graduated from Hollywood High School in 1948. After short stints at Los Angeles Community College and UCLA— and an off-putting first exposure to journalism in his coursework — he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. There, he served as Link Trainer instructor and later became editor of the base newspaper. He met his loving wife, Mary Lou Erickson, while serving as associate editor of the Roundup Record Tribune. They married in 1956 in Lewistown.

Following his discharge from the Air Force, Paul made the trek from Canton and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Bishop, California, and eventually to his own personal Shangri-La, Polson. Honing his craft, raising his kids, strengthening his faith and forging lifelong connections — Paul made his mark every step of the way.

Above all, Paul loved God, his family and his community — which he showed in his daily actions even more than his prolific writing. In the words of his children, “By any and all measures, Dad, you ‘done good,’” a reference to Paul’s ultimate sign of approval for a job well done.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Mary Lou, and infant son, Jimmy.

He is survived by his brother, Norman (Tess) Wright, his sister-in-law, Roberta Erickson, his kids Alan Fugleberg (Jacki Elam), Ruth (Lance) Hinther, Mark (Teresa) Fugleberg, Laurie (Pat) McHugh, and Tom (Christine) Fugleberg; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Paul’s life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 19, at the First Presbyterian Church in Polson. He will be laid to rest in the Veterans Section of the Lake View Cemetery in Polson.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Polson, Polson High School for the purpose of the Paul and Mary Lou Fugleberg Memorial Scholarship, or another charity of their choice.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.lakefuneralhomeandcremation. Arrangements are under the care of the Lake Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson.