Pauleen Ruth Bratland

August 11, 1932 - January 28, 2018

Pauleen Ruth Bratland, age 85, of Spring Grove, passed peacefully into Eternal Life on January 28th, 2018 at Gundersen Tweeten Care Center in Spring Grove, MN. She was born August 11, 1932 in Lanesboro, MN to Paul and Ruth (Gabrielson) Anderson. Pauleen graduated from Spring Grove High School in 1950 and furthered her education at Saint Francis Hospital for Nursing. On January 21st, 1951, Pauleen married the love of her life, Vernon J. Bratland at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove. Pauleen was always passionate about her hometown of Spring Grove and spent most of her life supporting the community. Pauleen and Vernon started working in the restaurant business at the C&D cafe in the 50s/60s followed by owning the A&W Root Beer stand from 1965 through 1976. The A&W provided many fond memories for all of us that enjoyed the Tuesday Coney Dogs and were served by the car-hops after ball games on weekends. Pauleen was an inspiration, and a tough cookie, to many high schoolers that got their first jobs and those work experiences, friendships, and stories are forever cherished. Pauleen also worked at the Skyline Supper Club, Dahle products, Corner Store, Ballard House, and Hometown Store to name a few. While managing the Hometown Store, Pauleen was very adamant about providing the best quality services to the community. She worked long hours supporting the store and businesses in Spring Grove. Pauleen also had a serving heart and volunteered at many organizations in the community. Pauleen was an Auxiliary Legion member, actively involved at Trinity Lutheran church and volunteered at Assisted Living, Art Gallery, and annually planting flowers in the Veterans star in the park with Boop, she also made regular visits to the Nursing home. She was involved in the Ballard House renovation project, Fall Foliage Festival, and getting “Festival of Trees and lighting of the Park” started in the early days when a hand full of trees were displayed in the store front windows. Pauleen did leave Spring Grove for a brief two year period in the 80s as she worked in Dyersville, Iowa and was just down the road from “The Field of Dreams”. Needless to say, her “Field of Dreams” was Spring Grove and she returned to her hometown that she loved so dearly. Pauleen’s other passion in life was supporting and attending Spring Grove athletic programs and following the Minnesota Twins, Vikings and Gophers. At a spry young age of 79, she along with Karen Langlie, were selected as Spring Grove Fans of the Year by the Spring Grove Athletic Booster club. These ladies were always sharing bleacher seats throughout the high school seasons and attending Football and Basketball games. Pauleen still attended games this past baseball and football season sitting in the car with Boop next to the fields and rooting on the hometown Lions. Pauleen was also so happy when high school baseball finally came back to Spring Grove and couldn’t figure out why it ever left… She was so proud of the High School Football team that won Spring Grove’s first 9-Man State Championship and that the team took the time to visit the residents at the Nursing Home during their championship season. Most of all, Mom loved her family and cherished all her children and grand-children. She enjoyed spending time with her grand kids, playing cards, Phase-10, Euchre, board games, puzzles, celebrating birthday parties and cooking for the family holiday gatherings. We will all miss her great smile, vibrant energy, warm hugs and always being a phone call away. She was truly an amazing, strong, and classy mother, grand-mother and great-grandmother. Pauleen is survived by her loving children Bruce Bratland of Spring Grove, Missy (Dave) Von Arx of Hokah, and Mitch (Loraine) Bratland of Aurora, Illinois; her cherished grandchildren Trisha (Chris) Lesnar, Stefanie (Mike) Rud, Tyler, Mackenzie and Lucas; adorable great-grandchildren Levan, Graham, Ander, and Greenley; and dear sisters Karen (Chuck) Krussow and Mary Tricker, and brother/sister-in-law Odell and Margie and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 24 years, Vernon, who left us way too early on May 7th, 1975, parent’s Paul and Ruth Anderson and brother/sister-in-laws Kenneth, Gladys, Harriet, Oberlin, Glenn, Elvina, Roland, Ann, Burnell, Luella, and Peter Tricker. The family would like to thank the caring staff at Gundersen Tweeten Care Center in Spring Grove where Pauleen had called her home for the past two years. The family will donate memorials to Spring Grove Sports programs that were near and dear to her heart.