Paul Edward Folkerts age 66, passed away on Friday May 28th at the Sanford Hospice Cottage in Sioux Falls, SD. A visitation will be held Tuesday June 1st from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Will Funeral Chapel. A private graveside service is planned for Wednesday June 2nd.

Paul was born May 4, 1944 in Mitchell, SD to William T Folkerts and Helen (Traut) Folkerts. He grew up South of Mitchell where he attended country school and was an active member of 4-H and a life-long supporter. He graduated from Mitchell Senior High School and joined the National Guard after graduation. He served as a member of the 147th artillery unit for 6 years. He also farmed and graduated from the Missouri River Auction School at the age of 18. He auctioned at the Corsica and Mitchell livestock barns.

On Nov 9, 1968, he married Cynthia Wendelboe. The couple moved to a farm South of Mitchell and farmed for many years.

Paul received his Real Estate license in 1982 and moved to Mitchell in 1983. He continued to farm and worked real estate as an associate for Lin Musick at Musick & Associates, Inc. He graduated from the River Basin Auction School in North Dakota in 1984 and began auctioning with Lin. In 1989 Paul received his Real Estate Brokers license. He established Folkerts Realty and Auction Company in 1991. He was named Realtor of the Year in 1990 and served a term as the president of the Mitchell Board of Realtors. He was also a member of the South Dakota Auctioneers Association, the National Auctioneers Association and the National Association of Realtors. Paul and his family worked in Real Estate and Auctioning for almost 25 years until his retirement.

He is survived by his wife; 4 children: Becky Folkerts of Sioux Falls, Jennifer Falor & husband Jim of Mitchell, Lori Folkerts of Sioux Falls, and Jeffrey Folkerts of Mitchell; 2 grandsons Clay and Payne; 2
brothers: William Folkerts and wife Kaye of Watertown and Robert Folkerts of Mitchell; brother and sister in laws: Terry & Lila Wendelboe of Spirit Lake, IA and Sharon and Lyle Vosika of Winner; nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and a sister in law.