Paul "Butch" Westrum

Paul “Butch” Westrum, age 83, passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at St. Johns on fountain lake the woodlands. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 10AM at Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home. Visitation shall be held from 4-6PM on Friday, March 28, 2025 and for an hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Reverend Charles Teixeira will be officiating.

Paul “Butch” Westrum was born in Albert Lea, MN to Gustav and Pearl Westrum. As a young child Paul had polio that affected his body to the point he was unable to pass the physical for the Armed Forces. Paul was told that he would never walk again. Despite this, he had a strong determination to play hockey again and with that determination and God’s mercy, after two years of leg braces, he was able to walk again and play hockey.

Paul played on the A-squad football team his sophomore, junior, and senior years of High school. At that time there was no high school hockey. Before graduating High School, he received a hockey scholarship from eight division-one Colleges but chose to play professional hockey instead of going to college. Paul played hockey for the Seattle Totems and for the Los Angeles Blades but gave up his lifelong ambition to return to Albert Lea to take care of his ailing parents, to repay them for all they did for him when he had polio. Upon returning to Albert Lea Paul did play hockey for the Albert Lea Rangers hockey team in the Southern Minnesota Senior Hockey League. He also helped coach the Bantams for a time. Paul was recruited in his senior year of high school to try out for the 1960 Olympic Hockey Team but received a hip injury and was unable to finish the try-outs.

Paul worked at the Albert Lea Country Club for 2 summers after graduating and for the City of Albert Lea for 2 summers in the Water Department. In April of 1965, Paul went to work at Streaters as a materials handler and expediter until January 1993. Paul also had side jobs as a carpenter and a painter. In doing so, he was able to provide several wonderful trips in the United States and abroad for himself and his family. The most memorable trip was to The Holy Land.

Paul married Carolyn Madsen in 1967 and had one daughter, Brenda.

Paul was a man with common sense. He was a perfectionist, a caring person, and a hard worker. He was a long-term member of the First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea.

His country was very important to him, and he did what he could to try and make it better. Paul loved sunsets and would often point them out. Paul also enjoyed watching birds in his senior years. He helped a lot of people. There were times he’d rather relax, I’m sure, but someone would ask and he would help out. In his later years, it was hard for him to accept help.

Paul is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carolyn Westrum; daughter Brenda (Brian) Underdahl; sister-in-law Dorothy Bliss; and many nieces and nephews.

Paul is preceded In death by his parents Gus and Pearl Westrum; brothers Lyle (Marian) Westrum, Richard "Bud" (Leona) Westrum, Bill Westrum, and “Bumper” (Dee) Westrum; sisters Helen (Viles) Lund and Maxine (Ken) Jenkins; brother-in-law Jerry Bliss; and nephew Mike.

The family would like to extend a gracious "Thank You" to the staff working on the third floor of the St. Johns Woodlands Campus, and to the St. Croix Hospice Team for their wonderful care they gave to Paul.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church, St. Johns or to St. Croix Hospice.