HURON A little bakery on Third Street began a connection between Paul Christen and Huron that will continue far beyond his recent passing on Sunday, July 27, at 96 years old.
Christen was born in Minneapolis, but his family soon moved to Mitchell. His parents owned and operated Ruby Ann Bakery in Mitchell, and Paul got his start helping in the family business. He graduated high school in Mitchell in 1947 and from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell in 1950.
He married Donna Muffy Starr of Mitchell in 1951, and the newlyweds moved to Huron and opened a second Ruby Ann Bakery on Third Street.
Within a decade, Christen has befriended Dr. Paul Hohm, and the two would go into a real estate partnership that would eventually make the two partners the largest property owners in the state.
Christens daughter, Rebecca Pohlad recalls the two friends were always close.
Dad would go sit on the bench at Dr. Pauls office to chat, she recalled. When Dr. Paul would finish with a patient, he and my dad would go talk in an office together.
Christen would eventually sell his bakery to SuperValu, but he continued investing in various business interests, and after meeting Minneapolis banker and financier Carl Pohlad, he began another business partnership that would lead to insurance, airlines, hotels, banking, and bottling companies.
When his partner had an opportunity to purchase majority ownership of the Minnesota Twins from Calvin Griffith in 1984, Paul purchased a small ownership share of the team as well. He would sell his share in 2003.
Despite his busy schedule, his daughter remembered that he was always there for his family and for Huron.
He was always so proud of Huron and what was going on in the town, Rebecca Pohlad said. That continued until the very end. Hed take us on a tour of town whenever we came to visit to show us everything that had happened since our last visit.
It was a quick tour, she laughed. He loved it, though.
One of the core values that Christen lived his life by and taught to his two daughters was to always find a way to give back.
That led into arguably Christens greatest legacy, philanthropy.
In 1968, Christen was in a plane accident and was severely injured, but though that made each step literally a challenge, he kept moving and encouraging others to do the same.
Christen was a founding board member of the South Dakota Community Foundation and served as chairman of the Foundation for nine years. His influence pushed many municipalities and small communities to begin their own charitable foundations.
Steve Gohn of the Huron Community Foundation said Christen took pride in what the Huron foundation was doing – and what is on the horizon for the foundation.
He was a big advocate for the Huron Community Foundation, Gohn smiled. I met with him in June to talk about a big thing coming up, and he was so excited about it. He was so proud of what weve done.
Gohn emphasized that Christen could have a list of accolades a mile long, and while his obituary (on Page 2) certainly touches on some of those accolades, there are so many more. However, Gohn stated that his way was to work more behind the scenes rather than out front, looking for recognition.
On different boards Ive been on where hes a board member, he was very quiet and always thinking, but when he said something, it was profound, Gohn said.
As he was recently elected as president of the Huron Chamber board, Gohn relays that he met with Christen for breakfast.
I was looking for advice, and I will never forget what he told me, Gohn discussed. He said, Just remember, Steve, your idea might not be the best idea. Always be open to other peoples ideas.
Paul lost his wife in 2019, and Rebecca remembers that they set an example for she and her sister.
They showed us how important it was to get a partner for the rest of your life, Pohlad explained. My dad always considered Mom a partner in everything. He shared with her everything he was working on – banking, charities, whatever.
They were such a team, she continued.
Pohlad says that her father remained involved in local current events, and he expressed his pleasure in seeing the diversity of Huron.
He was so proud of the turkey plant, she expressed. He thought the people there were so great for the community. He loved everybody!
While shes going to mourn her father, Pohlad states that the loss goes beyond their family.
As much as it is our loss, its a loss for South Dakota, Huron, and all of the small communities that he loved.
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