PAULA MARY (SCHULTZ) BERGREN

Paula Mary Bergren, (Schultz), 65, of Duluth, was tragically killed in a head on collision by a drunk driver, while driving her 13 year old grandson Everett Bergren to school, early Thursday morning. Everett remains in a Coma after sustaining critical injuries.

Paula was born on Aug. 9, 1946 in Des Moines, Iowa. She moved to Duluth with her family when she was 12 years old and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1964.

Paula came from a musical family and her two sisters were in the local musical group, Willowgreen. She was also prominent in Duluth sport's circles. Paula served as president of the non-profit Minnesota Recreation and Sports federation in the 1970s and 1980s. She was very active in women's softball leagues including managing the 1976 national championship team from the Rustic Bar. Paula was instrumental in establishing the Tessier-Waltman Memorial Softball Tournament.

Paula worked at Northwestern Bell and US West for 25 years where she was one of the first women engineers at the telephone company in the state of Minnesota. Paula was also the owner of Best Stamps and Engraving; She taught drivers education for "over 55" drivers; Most recently, she worked selling Duluth News Tribune subscriptions, where she was fondly known to many people as "the Newspaper Lady".

Paula was predeceased by her father, Everett (Ev) Schultz.

She is survived by her mother Josephine (Jo Jo) Schultz; her brother Mike Schultz; sisters Jeanne (Joe) Bonsall, Sue (Charles) Spencer, Wendy (Mike) Nelson; her children Shelley (Rhett) Nicholson, Ross Bergren and Joel Bergren; her grandchildren Michael, Jimmy and Katie Nicholson, Gabrielle Bergren, Everett Bergren, Liberty Bergren, Tehya Lamberton; and her great grand daughter Emily Nicholson.

Life was not without difficulty but Paula being a private person kept her sorrows to herself and always had a smile and calm presence. Paula loved and was loved very much by her family and friends. She thoroughly enjoyed life, music, "Chick Jams", hosting fabulous Halloween parties and dearly loved spending time with her grand children.

VISITATION: 12 noon Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 until the 1 p.m. Service in the Creamation Society of Minnesota, 4100 Grand Avenue, Duluth. Reception to follow

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