Peggy Joan Paulson, 87
Peggy Paulson, 87, of Brandon, passed away at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026.
Visitation with family present will be held from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Heartland Funeral Home, Brandon. Memorial services will follow at 12:30 p.m. Inurnment will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Brandon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Make a Wish of South Dakota in memory of Joan Paulson.
Peggy Joan Christensen, second child of Alton and Mildred (Klein) Christensen, was born just after midnight on Feb. 15, 1939, in Tracy, Minn. Her identical twin sister had arrived 50 minutes prior, before midnight, allowing Jean and Joan to be twins with different birthdays. This was just the first of many “mirror image” differences the twins would share throughout their lives.
Joan graduated from Brookings High School in 1957. Following graduation, she attended Gordon and David Beauty School, which would later become Stewart’s, graduating in 1958.
On June 6, 1959, Joan was united in marriage to Loel LeRoy Paulson at First Presbyterian Church in Brookings. This union was blessed with four children: Jodie, Lonnie, Lorrie and Jeanette.
The couple began their lives together in Sioux Falls before Loel’s career moved them to Huron. After six years in Huron, they returned to the Sioux Falls area. They settled in Brandon, where Joan lived for the next 56 years. She used her beautician license to bring in extra money while she excelled at her primary job of Mom. Joan was a prolific gardener of both flowers and vegetables. She began working outside the home once her youngest child began school. She made many friends over the years through her employment with the Brandon Valley School system, and in Sioux Falls at both American Freight Systems and Charter Hospital. In retirement, Joan enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s sporting, musical and school events. She also looked forward to watching her NBA teams, with Steph Curry being one of her favorite players. Joan and Loel spent 15 years wintering in Arizona and volunteered for over 20 years with Make a Wish Foundation of South Dakota.
Joan will be deeply missed by her four children, Jodie (Jay) Holtz, Sioux Falls, Lonnie Paulson and Alice Huth-Derrah, Glendale, Ariz., Lorrie Sonnheim, Sioux Falls, and Jeanette (Steve) Reiter, Sioux Falls; seven grandchildren, Shannon (Carl), A.J. (Kelsey), Micah (Alyssa), Brittany (Joey), Seth, Nathan, and Megan; six great-grandchildren, Jeremiah, Genevieve, JayLynn, Ember, Quintin and Kendon; twin sister, Jean Goedde, Goldendale, Wash.; brother, Jerry (Barbara) Christensen, Pierre; and many special neighbors, relatives and friends.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Loel; her parents, Alton and Mildred; her brother, Dr. Alton Christensen; and brothers-in-law, Merlyn Peterson and Ivo Goedde.
For online condolences visit www.heartlandfunerals.com.
