Jack Oliver Paulson, 86

Jack Oliver Paulson, 86, of Chinook, passed away on March 8, 2025, in his winter home in Phoenix.

He is survived by Donna Oftedahl, his wife, his only child, Kelly Paulson and his two grandsons, James and Marc, he is with his other grandson, Jacob (deceased) and his previous wife, Donna Taylor (deceased). He is also survived by long-time friends and relatives of the Chinook, Arizona and Bigfork communities.

Jack was born on June 6, 1938, in Chinook. His parents, Phil and wife, Marcella owned Paulson’s Electric downtown Chinook. He had two sisters, Bonita and Shirley. His summers were spent passionately working on classic cars and then went to Coin Electrical School in Chicago and then enlisted in the Marine Corps. Then Jack, met his first wife, Donna Taylor. They were both schoolteachers and wanted a new life, so they moved up to Anchorage as newly-weds. They drove their single wide trailer up the Elkan Hwy to find new teaching jobs in Alaska. When they had their only daughter, Kelly in 1964, it was a 9.4 earthquake in Anchorage, which prompted them to move back to Montana. Which is when Jack settled in Bigfork.

Family and friends of Jack will be at the Bethany Lutheran Cemetery at 11 a.m. on May 31, in Bigfork. Taps will be played as well as a gun salute. Alongside a music Tribute by Cup-O-Joe.

A celebration of life service will be held at the VFW Bigfork Chapter, 8098 MT Hwy 35 Bigfork, MT 59911; (406) 420-2266. Family will be providing a lunch service at 1 p.m. that is open to the public.

In Lieu of flowers, please send donations or flowers in honor of Jack’s grandson, Jacob Parmenter, to the Suicide Awareness fund… Contact 988 available 24/7.