Paul F. Hedge

(Nov. 20, 2006)

Former Powell resident Paul F. Hedge, 77, of 2360 B Patriot Lane, Oshkosh, Wisc., died in Appleton, Wisc., on Monday, Nov. 20.

He was born on Nov. 19, 1929, in Lincoln, Nebr., the son of Ivan and LaVada Hedge.  He married Lois Snyder on July 31, 1951.

Following graduation from Doane College, Crete, Nebr., in 1951, Paul began his career in the banking profession in Scottsbluff, Nebr.  In 1953, he began pursuing a masters in Music Education at Northern Colorado University in Greeley, Colo.  Paul taught instrumental music for 23 years in Nebraska, Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming. While in South Dakota, he served as vice president for two years of S.D. Bandmasters and two years as president.  He also served on the South Dakota High School Activities Board for several years.

Rushmore Music Camp in the Black Hills was established by Paul and Lois in 1971 and is still held annually each August for junior high and high school band students. Over the years, thousands of students have attended this camp near Mt. Rushmore.  Paul was honored for Distinguished Service to Music by the SD Phi Beta Mu, Band Director’s Organization in 1992, by his alma mater Doane College in 2001, and by SD Music Educators Association in 2003.

In 1975, Paul and Lois purchased a music store in Powell and added another Hedge Music in Worland in 1981.  The Hedges were in the music store business for 21 years.  Since retirement in 1996, Paul spent a great deal of time with his wife at his cabin in Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He volunteered as chairman of the Firewise Committee for the Spearfish Canyon Owner’s Association from 2001 to 2006.

Paul was active in civic affairs while a resident of Powell for 32 years, serving as chairman of the Downtown Improvement Committee for a number of years, president of  Kiwanis, many offices in the United Methodist Church, and a loyal member of the church choir.  He was a long-time board member for the Cody-Powell Community Concert Association.

Above all, Paul loved his family and loved music.  He especially loved to play his trumpet and taught music lessons to many young students.  He continued to play his trumpet in municipal bands, community symphonies, and at church wherever he lived.  Most recently he played solos and with the Praise Band at Algoma Boulevard United Methodist Church in Oshkosh.

Survivors include his wife, Lois of Oshkosh; son Randy (Holly) Hedge of Oshkosh, five grandchildren: Stephanie, Carly, and Joshua Hedge of Oshkosh, and Tyler Frederick of Worland and Heidi Frederick of Tacoma, Wash.; and brother Richard of Mead, Colo. He was preceded in death by daughter, Catherine Jean Frederick of Worland and by his parents, Ivan and LaVada Hedge of Filley, Nebr.

Memorial services were held Friday Nov. 24 at the Algoma Boulevard United Methodist Church. A memorial has been established for the student scholarships at the Rushmore Music Camp.