Paul O. Ramse

                                                                       ****     PLEASE NOTE DATE OF FUNERAL      ****    

Paul Owen Ramse was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on June 5, 2023, at the age of 79 at the Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown, SD. He was born on March 27, 1944 in Fosston, Minnesota to Arthur and Elmyra (Petersen) Ramse.

He will be lovingly remembered by his children; Karen Ramse, Nathan (Jen) Ramse, Daniel Ramse, Joshua Ramse; his brothers, Ben Ramse and David (Miriam) Ramse; his niece and nephew, Kayla (Kyle) Jore and Jonathan (Bethany) Ramse and their families; and his sister-in-law, Joan Aasboe.

He is predeceased by his parents, Arthur Ramse and Elmyra (Petersen) Ramse; and his wife, Shirley (Aasboe) Ramse. 

Paul spent his early years in McIntosh, Minnesota where his family owned a farm. He attended school in McIntosh. His parents were called to serve the Tokio Indian Mission in 1956 and moved their family to Tokio, North Dakota. Paul graduated from Dakota Lutheran Academy in 1962. After high school, he attended California Lutheran Bible School with his two brothers. After attending Bible school, Paul served in the Air Force and was stationed at Minot Air Force Base. After the air force, he earned an Associates of Science Degree in electronics at North Dakota State School of Science.

Paul was introduced to Shirley Aasboe by Bonnie Bundy (Pastor Burton Bundy’s wife) at the Grace Lutheran Brethren Church in Bismarck, ND. They were married on February 12, 1977 at Elim Lutheran Church in Osakis, Minnesota. They moved to Watertown, SD where they spent the next 45 years. They lived outside of Watertown where they raised their four children whom he loved dearly. They were very active in their church and loved fellowshipping with other believers. In fact, the Ramse family was usually the last to leave church as Paul would make sure new visitors were greeted and loved spending time visiting. 

Besides his love for Christ, he also had a love for people. When there were Sunday evening services, Paul made sure his family was in attendance. When missionaries came to visit, Paul and Shirley would host families in their home. Paul worked with Basin Electric for almost 34 years, retiring in 2009. He enjoyed camping, hiking and cycling with his family, planting trees, caring for the garden and lawn, and chopping wood. He could create and fix almost anything from building his own speakers, vehicles, building a quonset and small buildings, adding on to the house, rewiring the remodeled kitchen at church and so many other small jobs! He was always fixing something and helping others to fix things. Paul’s first love was for Christ which was evident in his daily morning routine when he spent time reading the Bible and praying for his family, friends, missions and so much more. He was a prayer warrior. He cultivated his faith in his own life and in the lives of his wife and children with family devotions. Both Paul and Shirley have been very active with the Gideon’s during their retirement years.

A visitation will be held from 2 - 4 PM on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel, 1311 4th Street, NE in Watertown. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 AM on June 26, 2023 at Watertown Christian Church, 201 Golf Course Road in Watertown.  Music will be provided by Kathy Iverson on piano and Julie Radach on the flute. Burial will be on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 3 PM at South Dakota Veterans Cemetery near Sioux Falls.

Honorary Pallbearers are the Gideons. Memorial donations may be made in Paul Ramse’s name to the Gideons International, PO Box 1472 Watertown, SD 57201

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Paul O. Ramse, please visit our floral store.