Deb S. Paul

Deborah Sue Paul (Deb) passed away quietly at her home on Mother’s Day, 5/21/2026. Born 3/28/1951 in Bismarck, ND, Deborah Sue Lyon was the daughter of Bill and Maxine Lyon. The family, along with her two siblings, Stephanie and Jim, later moved to Pelican Rapids, MN.

Deb was well known and loved during her high school years, where she was a cheerleader and involved in several organizations. Many meetings and gatherings took place at the family home, conveniently located directly across the street from the high school. After graduation, she attended Moorhead State College and earned her BA in Education.

She met her husband, David, during the summer of 1971 on an island on Lake Vermilion in northern Minnesota, where she was caring for an elderly couple. Unknown to her at the time, there was no way off the island except by boat — fortunately, David happened to be there with one. Their first date was a trip to Tower, MN, to collect cow pies for strawberries. From there, their relationship grew through a long-distance romance while Deb returned to Moorhead State and David returned to Des Moines, Iowa. They were married in June of 1973 after both graduated from college.

Following graduation, Deb moved to Iowa City with David, where she was selected from over 100 candidates for a Special Education teaching position at Kalona Elementary School. She taught there for five years before joining the Coralville School System, where she continued teaching Special Education while earning her master’s degree in Education from the University of Iowa.

During their years in Iowa City, their first two sons, Ryan and Michael, were born at University of Iowa Hospitals while David completed his residency in urology. In 1983, after residency, the family moved to Brainerd and later Baxter, where their third child, Stephanie, was born.

Deb was a devoted mother who used both her education and compassionate nature to guide and support her children throughout their lives. Family was always at the center of who she was.

After the children graduated from high school, Deb worked in home health care in the Brainerd area for 10 years, where she found great fulfillment caring for the elderly. She deeply loved caring for others and looked forward to growing older alongside David and continuing to share life together. In later years, health challenges limited some of the things she had hoped to do, but her love and devotion to her family never wavered.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, David; her three children, Ryan (Sara), Michael (Angie), and Stephanie Gustafson (Jared); and six grandchildren, Charlie, Elsie, Stanley, Graysen, Eli, and Emmeline. She is also survived by her siblings, Jim Lyon and Stephanie Larson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Maxine Lyon and nephew Mathew Larson

A memorial will be held at a later date with friends and family.