PAULA J. HARJU obituary

HELENA Paula J. (Goeltz- Hanson) Harju, 71, died Friday, May 18, 2007, due to injuries sustained in a car accident. Memorial services will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Valley View Lutheran Church in Helena.

A viewing will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Havre from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday. Graveside services will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. at the Kuper Memorial Cemetery in Chinook. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Gary Bode of the Valley View Lutheran Church of Helena. Paula was born in Cudahy, Wis., on Jan. 9, 1936, to Walter and Linda Goeltz. She attended Lutheran schools in Cudahy and furthered her education at Martin Lutheran College in New Ulm, Minn. On Sept. 9, 1956, she married Gary Hanson of Havre. Together they worked at various ranches along the Hi-Line. In 1960 they purchased a place in Zurich and later moved west of Havre. To this union they added five children. They later divorced. Paula was well known as a great 4-H leader, seamstress, Sunday school teacher and always had a love for the Lord. Paula later met Norm Harju in Havre and they were united in marriage on Oct. 30, 1996. Together they owned and operated Roxy's Dry-Cleaning Service in Havre until moving to Helena 2004. She always loved people and visiting with all of them. After moving to Helena she took a job at the Radley Headstart School in East Helena. Paula was an active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Havre participating in the choir and teaching Sunday school for many years. After moving to Helena, she became a member of the Valley View Lutheran Church and became an active member there also. She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, a daughter and one grandson. Survivors include her husband, Norm Harju of Helena; children, Robert (Lisa) Hanson of Havre, Paul (Lorrie) Hanson of Park City, Tim (Lisa) Hanson of Casper, Wyo., Keith (Keri) Hanson of Chinook and Michelle (Mike) McEwen of Helena; brother, Robert (Carol) Goeltz of Muskego, Wis.; sisters, Dorothy Hoppman of Goodhue, Minn., Alice Goeltz and Margaret (Gary) Price of Redwing, Minn.; 16 grandchildren; and nine greatgrandchildren. Memorials are suggested in Paula's name to the Valley View Lutheran Church, 3000 Benton Ave., Helena, MT 59602. Arrangements are made by Edwards Funeral Home in Chinook.