Born to Paul Herman Paulsen and Martha Oline Blattmann, Grant was the first of six children. As a child he was fun-loving, happy, and mischievous and he loved Gene Autry, model trains, and attempting to build treehouses. As he grew, he came to love all things cars especially when it came to improving their speed.
Grant grew up working for his dad in construction knowing long days of hard labor and learning what it means to work with and live with integrity. He loved working, and he loved golfing. Mostly he loved skiing. To see him ski a mountain was to know you had seen grace.
Grant learned the art of skiing from a very young age. He learned telemark skiing under the tutelage of his Norwegian mother and he skied cross-country with his father. As children Grant and his siblings skied in the gully behind their home and even skied to school. He was on the ski patrol at Alta Ski Resort and taught ski lessons at both Alta Ski Resort and Brighton Resort. Grant also taught for the University of Utah’s ski program. He studied with skiing great Alf Engen and he tested equipment for Rosignol. He was an absolutely beautiful skier.
Grant loved the Tetons. He rejoiced in their beauty and in their being a place where Heaven seems to meet the earth. Growing up, his family spent time nearly every summer vacationing in that wonderful part of the world where he spent much time fishing with his dad, grandpa, and brothers, which was special to them all. After he married, he took his family every year. He gave us the blessing of knowing the power, the majesty, the peace, and the sacredness of that place.
After graduating from Olympus High School, Grant attended the University of Utah until he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Oslo Norway Mission in the land of his forebears. He loved his mission with all of his heart and even though it was tremendously difficult, he would have given anything to do it again. He spent most of his two and a half years of service as Assistant to the President of the mission, but was given permission to serve his last month in a companionship with his younger brother Tom. It was a highlight and joy of his mission.
Upon returning home from Norway, Grant attended Brigham Young University for a time then transferred back to the University of Utah. He met and courted his sweetheart, Kristin Thomson, and they married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 30, 1964. Over time, they were blessed with five children. As a husband he treated his wife as his queen. As a father he was strong, gentle, and kind. As a Priesthood holder he was a humble and worthy man.
In college Grant studied mechanical engineering but when he was 13 credit hours away from graduating, he changed his major to accounting at the urging of his father. Before long he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration. Soon thereafter he became a CPA and worked for the accounting firm Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. for ten years. Some of those years were spent auditing Snowbird Ski Resort, a company client, until Snowbird hired him away and he worked as Financial Vice President of the resort. After a year he chose to go into business for himself.
Grant always prioritized his wife and children over his career. His being self-employed enabled him to be present in our lives. He never missed a game, a recital, a track meet, or a concert. He taught us how to ski and took us every weekend. He did all he could to support every one of our endeavors. He loved us. He made life good and he made life fun. He was our grounding undercurrent and he was our true friend.
Most of all Grant loved God. He kept the two great commandments with devotion. He went about doing good. He searched the scriptures. He was a dedicated servant of the Lord and served in many capacities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at both ward and stake levels. He was a Scout leader throughout all of his son’s scouting years and he loved it.
Grant served as bishop in his ward and for five years he gave his all in a spirit of humility and unconditional love. He was compassionate and he was always quick to err on the side of kindness. Then a few years ago, Grant was blessed to serve his second mission alongside his wife in the Utah Salt Lake City East Mission as a full-time Member and Leader Support missionary.
Grant wants us to thank everyone who has played a part in his life for the better. He wouldn’t be as good a person as he is without you. You know who you are.
Grant was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Vivian, his brothers Tom (Gloria) and David (Fran), and his baby granddaughter Morgan. He is survived by his wife Kristin, his children Marin, Jenna, Brynnli, Brant (Kerrin), and Kira (Benjamin) Fowler, ten grandchildren, and his sisters Peggy (Richard) Ellsworth, and Janet (Gerald) Burt.
A viewing will be held Friday, November 10, 2023 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cottonwood Fourth Ward building located at 5565 Neighbor Lane in Holladay, Utah. Funeral services will be held at the same address at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 11, 2023 and will be preceded by a viewing from 10:00 to 10:45. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
Our family wishes to thank all those who cared for Grant at Sunrise at Holladay and at Inspiration Hospice. We will forever be grateful to you.
And to Grant from his family, xo. We love you. Thank you for always being a shining example of how to live a Christlike life.
In lieu of flowers Grant expressed a desire for donations to be made to the Fast Offering Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or any other humanitarian fund to assist those in need.
