Paul E Wethern 1899 -  1992

Olde Man Wethern, Just Paul E. (1899 – 1992)

As a small boy around the turn of this century, he watched steamboats ply the Mississippi River and remembered how the old steel girder bridge connecting Anoka and Champlin opened to allow passage.

In his 92 years, Paul E. Wethern, Champlin’ s best known citizen, ambassador, church worker, collector, columnist, youth leader and the county’s most dedicated Boy Scout, touched the lives of thousands of people in a manner few humans ever achieve.

Wethern died in his sleep about 1 a.m., Jan. 17, 1992. He was remembered at a memorial service attended by nearly 300 people.

The Boy Scouts was an organization very dear to his heart, along with his work at the Champlin United Methodist church.

Rev. Kathi Ausin-Mahle said, “He never married, but we are all part of Paul's family. There will never be another person like him. We are the richer for having known Paul."
Champlin Mayor Bill Haas said, "He loved his community and sold more Father Hennepin Days buttons than anyone. I am sure he is sitting with the Lord and has a Father Hennepin button. He left a living memory we can't forget. He set an example and a challenge for scouts and youth."

Forrest Hansen, a long-time scouter and friend, remembers: "He told me, 'When I die, don't send flowers. I'm dead and I can't smell them.' He also wanted his funeral on a Saturday so people would not have to miss work and lose money on his account. "
Ironically, his funeral was Monday, the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a national holiday.

An indifferent young scout at Wethern's last time at Many Point was caught up with Wethern's enthusiasm of songs, skits and stories at campsite and the following day begged him to stay. "He is fun," the boy said. "That's the way he could affect people," 'Hansen said. "He would liven up things, that's for sure."

John Weaver, Anoka City Coun­cilmember, knew Wethern in the early 1940s. "He would take us to camp and we tested Paul to the limit."

After lights out, the young scouters would slip out of their tents and imitate the noise of wild animals prowling the night for hapless scoutmasters. As they got closer to Wethern's tent, Wethern would holler, "Weaver, get back to bed!"

The community raised funds to send Wethern to the World Jamboree in Norway in 1975 and Weaver was amazed at the vitality of the then 75-year-old man. "I could hear him three hills away as he came back from a tour, riding a bike."

Weaver was a member of Troop 204 and attending the University of Minnesota when Wethern called him to run a scout Wallagazo competition project. "That's one thing about Paul," Weaver said.

"You could not turn him down. I ran the Wallagazo, but first he made certain that I had registered as a scouter. He always did this to keep our interest alive and to find the same fever for these scouting pro­grams as he did. He made sure dad was in town for my Eagle court of honor. The little things he did are very significant when you look at it. He taught a lot of people a lot about life.

"He used to say, when the State Legislature ran out of time, they cover the clock. When I run out of time, they cover the calendar."

Terry Haub, good friend, Eagle Scout and world traveler from Champlin, also had fun with Wethern. When Wethern's stereo went on the blink, Haub helped him get another and set it up, complete with cue cards in large print announcing the volume and the functions of other buttons. "Paul liked it, but it was disastrous for the neighbors," Haub recalls.

He also recalls how Wethern conned him into driving to Many Point near Park Rapids last summer.
Haub had not seen him for six months, so coming home from Los Angeles, he stopped for a visit at Berkshire (retirement Community). Wethern said he wanted to go. He got clearance and was ready the next morning. In fact, they stayed overnight at Many Point.

But early on, Wethern unfolded a copy of the Anoka County. Union, which stated in his column that he hoped to convince his friend Terry to make the trip. “He duped me,” Haub smiled. “He already had it in the paper and here I thought it was my decision.” Haub allowed that taking Wethern places was a fun time for him.

Besides scouts and church work, this modern day legend was active in senior citizens clubs, North Suburban Area Stamp Club, Anoka Halloween, Champlin‘s Father Hennepin Days celebration, the Father Christmas festivity, the Community concert association to name a few.

In his spare time, he collected a re­markable history of scouting, antiques, a disarray of orderly confusion of scrapbooks, papers and pictures, music by Mantovani and a host of African violets.
He began working with a youth group at the Champlin church in 1930 and was asked to start a scout troop.~ He didn't know anything about it; but was willing to try.;

Consequently, Troop 176, now Troop; 276, was installed Oct. 5, 1930 with: Wethern as scoutmaster. He was also an assistant scoutmaster, district commissioner, district activities director, Cubmaster, advisor: to the Isanoka Chapter of the Order: of the Arrow, troop committee member, chairman of Troop 276 and neighborhood commissioner for Champlin and Dayton.

On Sept. 8, 1934, he was initiated into the Order of the Arrow as an ordeal member, a brotherhood honor in 1940 and was awarded the Vigil Honor in 1945, the highest honor in the Order of the Arrow, He was awarded the Silver Beaver award in 1952 and proudly displayed the Anoka: Kiwanis and Anoka Halloween Service to Youth plaques. He was also honored as Good Neighbor to the Northwest on WCCO Radio in 1963 and earned a host of other awards; Champlin also named a park in his name.

In between times, he was superintendent of the Champlin United' Methodist Church school for more than 50 years and was a charter member of the Anoka Methodist Men's Club and was its president. He was chairman of the Hennepin County Tuberculosis and Health Association for several years.
His energy rivaled that of men and women half his age. He retired from the Sunshine Biscuit Co. several years ago and diverted that energy to his scout and church work. .

He was born in Champlin. He was the youngest son of three boys and three daughters of George and Mary Wethern. He attended. Champlin grade school and Anoka High School, worked in the First State Bank of Champlin, then the Sunshine Biscuit Co., Powers Dry Goods and, during the Depression, at Lutsen's Resort on the north shore near Two Harbors. He also worked for Ghostley Poultry.

He tried to attend all Anoka High School football and basketball games and he and the scouts used to usher at college football games and at state basketball tournaments.

He also wrote a popular, folksy column, first for the old Anoka Herald and then for the Anoka County Union for more than 60 years. In the finest of journalistic tradition, he wrote his last column before he died Friday. It was found on his desk.

It was the news story ending of '30' for Olde Man Wethern, Just Paul E., gone, but missed and never forgotten, one of a kind who touched and enriched the lives of so many as he passed this way.