Paul Dwyer

Paul Thomas Dwyer, 68, of Crookston, Minn., passed away at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, N.D., on Monday, October 1, 2018, with family at his side. Paul was born on August 20, 1950, in Valley City, N.D., to Frank and Grace (Pederson) Dwyer, the youngest of their seven children. He was baptized and confirmed at the Dazey Methodist Church and attended Dazey Elementary School. Paul graduated in 1968 from North Central High School Barnes County. Following high school, he served in the U.S. Navy and was discharged in 1969. He then attended watchmaking school in St. Paul, Minn., and following his graduation returned to his home area to help on the farm and work at a Valley City jewelry store. Paul was offered a position at Munn’s Jewelers in Crookston and began his career there in 1971.

Paul would later meet Susan Jan Noss and they were united in marriage on August 13, 1977 at Trinity Lutheran Church. Together they raised daughters, Amy and Jessica, in a home filled with love and laughter. Paul’s career with Munn’s spanned a little over 40 years before his retirement in 2012. During those years he was actively involved in the Crookston Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Retail Merchants’ Association, and the Crookston Airport Commission. As a devoted member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Paul held positions of leadership on the Property and Management Board and the Trinity Endowment Committee. He also shared his love of music singing with the contemporary worship group and as a member of the Trinity Men’s Chorus. He assisted with the community stable service and community food baskets for many years. Hobbies and interests included singing barbershop music, target shooting, pitching horseshoes, fishing/hunting, classic cars, draft horses, golf, and motorcycling.

Retirement for Paul really only meant that he switched gears from the world of retail to raking hay for his son-in-law, Peter; working the annual sugar beet harvests for the Thoreson family; and helping bring in the grain, bean, and corn crops for close friends in the area. He had a clock repair shop in his home and always seemed to have a project he was working on for family and friends. Paul’s legacy was a life exemplified by hard work and selfless service to others. His love for Sue and their family was his greatest treasure, his greatest achievement, and the focus of his life. Forever missed will be his goofy smile, sense of humor, fun-loving nature, and the daily sacrifices he made for each of them. May God bless Paul’s memory.

Loving family members include Sue, Paul’s wife and best friend of 41 years; their two daughters and son-in-law, Amy Dwyer of Fargo, N.D., and Jessica and Peter Moland of Fertile, Minn.; precious grandchildren, granddaughter, Riley (13) and grandson, Leo (10); mother-in-law, Adelle Noss of Crookston; four siblings, Eunice (Clifford) Sorenson of Kathryn, N.D., Neil (Maureen) Dwyer of Granville, N.Y., Brian Dwyer of Dexter, Ore., and Iris Fogderud of Fargo, N.D.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Debbie and Dave McLaughlin of Baker, Minn.; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Waiting to embrace Paul in heaven are his granddaughter, Samantha Joy Moland; his parents, Frank and Grace Dwyer; father-in-law, Sammy Noss; sister-in-law, Katie Dwyer; brother-in-law, Gerald Fogderud; and twin infant siblings, who were the first to be born into the Dwyer family.

Paul’s life will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 6, 2018, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston with The Rev. Greg Isaacson officiating. Visitation with the family will take place at Trinity on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., with a 7 o’clock prayer service and time of sharing led by The Rev. Elise Pokel. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service Saturday. The Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home is assisting with funeral arrangements. Memorials may be given in Paul’s name to Trinity Lutheran Church, City of Joy, or a charity of your choice.

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