Milo was born in Oungre on October 8, 1930 to Oscar and Gudrun. The famous country doctor, Dr. Brown, delivered their first born son. Milo attended Round Grove School in the Ratcliffe District. Milo lived in a large farm house with his parents and grandparents, Sven and Birgit Paulhus for quite a few years. Oscar bought the Drake farm and Milo farmed that land near Ratcliffe with his father until he was 22. The farm was only two miles from the US border. The family would walk down to the little country church near Westby, Montana; uncles farmed the land right up to the border. Family was buried at the Oslo Lutheran Church in the Oslo cemetery. Milo was baptized there. Milo became very chilled while drowning gophers with friend Billy Franklin one cold spring day when he was about eight years old. He developed decay of the lung and was rushed about 20 miles to Ambrose, North Dakota to be operated on by Dr. Weeks, a brilliant young surgeon. They removed the top right lobe of his lung. His mom, Gudrun, was his nurse for the month he spent in hospital. Several months passed before Milo learned to use his legs well again. Oscar bought him a two wheel bike to further strengthen his legs. He then started school all over again and therefore was older than his school peers. Doctors, in later years, were amazed that such an operation was done successfully in such a small town hospital, particularly without antibiotics since they weren't available for civilians during the war. Milo loved riding his horse, Sorella, swimming, cross country skiing, and softball. Tobby, his big collie dog, was a joy in his life. Since he was older than his school peers, he could drive his dad's big grain truck to take his classmates to ball games at the other schools. He also loved dancing and acting in the school plays. Being a farm boy, Milo was used to hard physical labour. From the time Milo was 12 years old he would trap rabbits, weasels, muskrat and mink, prepare the hides, and sell them. He made his own spending money this way. He was an expert hunter, trapper and marksman. Milo met his wife-to-be, Gladys Milford of Froude, while in Stoughton at the regular Saturday night dance. Gladys had to go home with her brother Harvey that night. Sometime later, Milo came back up to Froude to find her. After Teacher's College and a year of teaching in Goodwater, they were married in Froude United Church on December 21, 1957. They moved into the teacherege in Goodwater. In the fall of 1965, they moved into their newly built home in Weyburn. This is their present day home. Their two oldest sons Brett and Blake were born while living in Goodwater. Sons Ward and Trent and daughter Tara were born in Weyburn. Milo received his first pay cheque in 1945 at 15 years old when he took a summer job with a crew digging holes for power poles as electricity was being brought into the community. He left farming and worked with a crew with the Department of Highways putting up sign posts all around southern Saskatchewan. He learned to operate the grader and then graded #13 Highway from Tribune to the border for several years. Weyburn Wire and Cable opened up offering year-round employment. He worked there for two years. His friend Wilf Skjonsby, who was working for Central Del Rio Oils, talked him into working in the oil patch. He had already been doing winters on the rigs as a rough neck. He worked for Philip Ror's crew as a "roust about"; hard, dirty work! The company changed from Central Del Rio to Pan Canadian. In 1960 he became a "battery operator" and worked steady with them in several different capacities until 1992. The last two years he worked out of his office in their new building. His new title was Chemical Technologist. He had office girls teaching him how to send reports to Calgary on computer. Milo had a great love of the outdoors. Retirement gave him lots of time for boating, fishing, camping, golfing and curling. He took a course at community college in upholstery and become proficient at recovering living room furniture and boat seats. Milo enjoyed picking up odds and ends of worn furniture and refinishing them to their original beauty. He showed great expertise with these new hobbies. He also loved doing yardwork and keeping trees well trimmed. Travel became a passion. With wife, Gladys, their motorhome travels took them through every province and territory in Canada, through many states of the US including Alaska, and to Mazatlan and other parts of Mexico. In 1997 they purchased a park model in Apache Junction, Arizona. Each fall in October they drove 1600 miles south, taking their time and enjoying all the beautiful scenery of each state. After Christmas they rented the park model out to others and travelled in a caravan with a group of up to 15 others. At Quartzsite, Arizona, campers circled out in the desert. Yuma was another stopping place, and spots along the beautiful Colorado River. They have multiple friends in these places. Palm Springs was a special oasis the last five years with niece and nephew, Sherry and Harvey Steffen. It was here, in Palm Springs, that Milo passed away March 16, 2012. Their travels have included two trips to Norway, and cruises to the Caribbean, and the islands of Hawaii. Milo belonged to the Elks of Canada for 50 years. His highest office was that of District Deputy. In 2000 he became a member of the American Elks at Apache Junction. He was a long-time member of the Canadian Legion. Milo was also a member of the Moose Lodge of America in Apache Junction. Milo was a cub leader, ball and hockey coach. Milo loved to sit and listen to friends young and old telling their stories of what was going on in the oil field. At the Legion, he loved listening to the great conversations of what was going on in Weyburn. He loved to be at all the family gatherings with children, grandchildren and other family. He will be sorely missed at all future family reunions and gatherings. Making his famous beer pancakes from scratch for everyone was his speciality. Milo was predeceased by his mother Gudrun, his father Oscar, and baby sister, Donnalene. He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Gladys (Milford). Also survived by his sons Brett (Lynn) of Winnipeg, MB; Blake (Shawn) of Regina and their children Evan, Eric, Bradley, Krista, and great grandson Jaxten; Ward (Joanne) of Weyburn and their children Teagan, Randi and Jaelyn; Trent (Christina) of Calgary and their children Madeleine and Lachlan; daughter Tara (Darin) Degenstein of Regina and their children Elizabeth, Sara and Bryden; sister Shirley Aasen of Morengo; brothers Llyod (Rita) of Assiniboia, Robert (Linda) of Pilot Butte, Merle (Adele) of Kelowna, BC; mother-in-law Elizabeth Milford of Carstairs AB; brothers-in-law Murray of Berwin, AB, Delvin (Donna) of Pine Lake, AB, Glenn (Debbie) of Saskatoon; sisters-in-law Hazel Anderson of Carstairs, AB, Beth (Allan) Kautzman of Surrey, BC, Gail (Gordan) Hallick of Edmonton, AB; numerous nieces, nephews, and special cousins in Canada and in the USA. The funeral service for Milo was held March 26 in the Grace United Church with Rev. Mohandas Barnabas officiating. Eulogies were read by his children Brett, Blake, Ward, Trent and Tara. Rev. Barnabas read words of remembrance from his beloved wife, Gladys. A lovely duet medley of gospel hymns was sung by Ronald and Norman Alexander accompanied by Cherith Alexander. Pallbearers were Evan Paulhus, Eric Paulhus, Teagan Paulhus, Darin Paulhus, Dean Milford and David Milford. Honourary pallbearers Norman and Karen Jordan, Howard and Kay Sutherland, Joe and Anne Robillard, Gordon and Shirley Reaney, and Bill and Myrna Pulfer. Interment Hillcrest Cemetery by Fletcher Funeral Chapels. Arrangements have been entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Chapels Ltd., Weyburn (306) 842-5432.
