Obituary of Paula Anderson Ehlers

Paula Anderson Ehlers (nee Anderson) was called home to the Lord on February 23, 2017 at her home, at the age of 73. She was born April 11, 1943 in Forsyth, MT to Gerhard Ferdinand Anderson and Lyla Carnine Anderson.
Paula was the second of three children, joining older sister Karen (now Inglis), and followed by younger brother Steve. She grew up in the Minneapolis area, graduating from Washburn High and the University of Minnesota.
She then moved west and embarked on a teaching career that spanned four decades. Paula was a beloved teacher in Los Altos for 30+ years. She loved teaching kids, especially those at the higher elementary levels, who were transitioning from basic skills to the more challenging aspects of math and science. She engaged her students with discovery, patterns, and potential applications. Paula retired in 2004.
Paula faced an early health scare when she had Hodgkin's Disease at the age of 24, and she survived thanks to the hard work of her doctors and a will to survive. She embraced life, married for 40 years to her loving husband Randy, raising two sons, Erik, born 1977, and Kris, born 1980. Her wry smile and bat like hearing enlivened the lives of those around her, as did her beautiful piano playing and singing voice. In the most challenging of circumstances, she maintained a resolute faith in the Lord, love for her family and dedication that any challenge could be survived simply by placing one foot in front of the other.
For the past 23 years, despite trying diagnoses, Paula and Randy supported each other. Their love was strong, their dedication to each other unwavering. Each day, they made the choice to be there for one another, as in love on their last day together as on the first, their marriage was just a few days shy of their 41st anniversary.
We wish to thank the medical staff at El Camino for their gracious and skillful care for both the body and spirit. We are thankful that she could live at home until the end, and that she passed away while asleep. If only we all could be so fortunate!
Paula is survived by husband Randy, sons Erik (Julie) and Kristoffer (Katy), and grandsons Anderson and Nolan, her sister Karen Inglis and brother Steve Anderson and her remaining extended family.
Paula's service will be Sunday, March 19th at 1:00 PM at the Spangler Funeral Chapel in Los Altos [399 S. San Antonio Road, not far from Foothill Expressway; (650) 948-6619]
Viewing: 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM.




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