Pauline H. Hall

Pauline Hall went to her eternal home on Sunday, January 26,2025 at Mayo Hospital Mankato. She was lovingly surrounded by her children Julie (Gary) Reed, Lance (Penny) Hall, Kelly (Brian) Preble, Troy Hall and Chris (Fatemeh) Hall. 

Pauline Harriet Rystrom Hall was born on March 6, 1934 in North Branch, MN, the first of four daughters to Harry and Leona (Nordine) Rystrom. 

Pauline met and married Hugh Hall in St Paul, MN where both were active in church youth activities. The first night they met, they went to the church basement and Hugh played a waltz on the church’s music system. The two danced one time around the youth hall when Hugh turned to her and said, “Wow, we dance well together, will you marry me?”

Pauline and Hugh were married on August 6, 1955 and moved to St Cloud MN where Hugh finished his teaching degree. The couple relocated to Albert Lea for Hugh’s first teaching job where they stayed to raise their family and celebrate God’s love and their community for the next 55 years.

Pauline and Hugh have five children, 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. They were foster parents as well as enjoyed taking in two foreign exchange students, Christian Tuttlies followed a few years later by his sister Claudia who each spent one year at the Hall’s house going to school in Albert Lea.

Pauline was active in too many activities to begin to list. Active in the Jaycees, Salem Lutheran Church and community clubs, Pauline loved commentating style shows. She was Welcome Wagon Hostess for several years. Pauline was active in school PTA’s and a frequent room mother. She found time to help with the special education program as a teacher’s aide for the mentally handicapped. She did daycare when the kids were little often having more than a houseful of kids on any given day. Always shuttling – you could find Pauline on the road taking one of the kids to hockey practice as early as 5 am when the fairground ice rink had open ice time or driving to and from Beaver Lake in Ellendale where the family enjoyed their summer cabin. 

Pauline worked as a secretary for Queen’s products and later as the secretary for the Nursing Administrator of Naeve (Mayo) Hospital in Albert Lea. Pauline was the longest active volunteer for Hospice enjoying this work for 30 years. She also started a program calling on shut ins from her church (Salem Lutheran) making sure those unable to come to church were visited and brought the church bulletin every month.

She enjoyed cooking, baking and making mints for special occasions including hundreds of weddings and other celebrations. She would start making one batch of cookies on Thanksgiving night through Christmas and give her beautiful works of love as Christmas gifts.

Pauline was selected as Albert Lea’s Citizen of the year for her outstanding volunteering in her community.

Pauline was active in the community theatre, often assisting with tickets, make up or ushering. She served as a Sunday School teacher and circle president, was active in Sew -n- Tell and S.O.S. (Salem Over Sixty).

She and Hugh loved to travel and enjoyed many trips both in the continental United States and abroad. When Hugh’s health failed, she was his number one caretaker.

In 2022 Pauline moved to Crystal Seasons in Lake Crystal to be close to her daughter Julie (Gary) Reed and continued her volunteering there. She entertained at Crystal Seasons daily playing the piano (she played by ear).

Pauline was preceded in death by her husband Hugh, parents Harry and Leona Rystrom, Sister and brother in laws – Dale (Shirley) Klosner, Elaine Rystrom, Karen Prince, Larry Hall, Dorothy Hall, Dayton Prince, Mother in Law Marion Hall, Father in Law Halbert Hall, infant daughter Amy Jo and niece Paula. 

Pauline would always say, when I die, don’t be sad for me. I have had the most wonderful life! I have a beautiful family, I’ve done so many things and I get to go to be with Hugh.

The family will accept guest on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 10 am for gathering at Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, MN. Memorial service will begin at 10:30am immediately followed by a Luncheon at the church. 

In lieu of flowers the family request that you make a donation in Pauline's memory to Mayo Hospice (formerly Crossroads Hospice) or Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, MN.