Paula Jeanne Martinsen, 67 of Lyle, Minn., died Wednesday, May 28, 2014, surrounded by her family at the Adams Health Care Center.

Paula was born on Feb. 8, 1947, in Austin, Minn., to Clifford and Josephine (Butcher) DeFor. She graduated from Austin High School in 1965 and attended Austin Community College for two years. She later received her Master’s degree from Concordia College. She also attended United Theological Seminary in Minneapolis. Paula married Robert Martinsen on Dec. 2, 1988, at her parent’s home in Austin.

Paula worked as a nurse for 36 years in the Rehabilitation and Orthopedics departments at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester and she was a very active member of First United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir.

She was preceded in death by her parents, father-in-law Arnold Martinsen, brother-in-law Albin “Red” Levorson and nephew John Levorson.

Paula is survived by her husband, Robert “Marty” Martinsen, Lyle, Minn.; son, Jerry Foote, Jr. (Mary Bos), Austin, Minn.; grandson, Jacob Foote; sister, Judy Levorson, Northwood, Iowa; brothers and sister-in-law, Donald DeFor, Austin, Minn., Clifford (Margaret) DeFor, Prior Lake, Minn.; mother-in-law, Marian Martinsen, Racine, Wis.; and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Marilee Benson officiating. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and at the church on Saturday for one hour before the service.

The family prefers memorials.