Paul L. Carson, age 96, of Brookings, died Monday, June 22, 2015, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 25, 2015, at Bethel Baptist Church in Brookings, with interment and military rites at Greenwood Cemetery. Visitations will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Bethel Baptist Church. Eidsness Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Paul Lleweylin Carson was born March 27, 1919, on a farm north of Ames, Iowa, to James W. and Ethel (Siverly) Carson. He was raised in Diagonal, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 1937. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education and Biology from Northwest Missouri State University in 1941. He was principal of the Bolckow Public Schools in Missouri prior to serving three years in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was drafted in 1943 and trained in Iowa, Massachusetts, and Maryland. In 1944 he deployed to England aboard the SS Brazil, joining 8000 soldiers for a 22 day trip in what was the largest convoy of that time. After marshalling with Headquarters Company, 6th Engineer Brigade in Paighton, England, they sailed to Normandy on the Liberty boat, expecting to be in the first wave of the Normandy invasion. However, the anchors of the ship became twisted and had to be cut, causing the delay in their arrival to D-Day + One. The convoy ahead of them had massive casualties and lost most all their equipment. Paul was later involved in the Battle of the Bulge and remained in Europe until the war ended. Upon returning home Paul attended Iowa State University where he earned his Master of Science degree in Soil Fertility in 1947. Additional post-graduate study was undertaken in the years from 1955 to 1958 at Iowa State. With the exception of his military service, his professional life was entirely devoted to the field of agronomy. His major research interests were in soil fertility and soil science. He joined the faculty of SDSU in 1948 and retired in 1984 as Professor of Plant Science and a member of the Graduate Studies Faculty. Professor Carson was extensively involved in international agriculture, assisting other nations in their development. Among his assignments were two years with the Rockefeller Foundation Columbia Project (1967-1968) and a year with the Michigan State University Brazil Project (1978) in Bogota, Colombia, a year with the United States Agency for International Development Pakistan Project (1976), and two years with the SDSU Botswana Project (1981-1983). In 1952 Paul stopped by the Rural Electrification Authority in Mount Ayr, Iowa, and ran into a college friend from eleven years prior, Evelyn Euritt Pratt, who was working in that REA office. It turned out to be providence. They renewed their friendship and were married on June 29, 1953. Paul gained a family that dayEvelyn and her two daughters from a previous marriage, Karen Ann and Connie Jo. He brought them all to Brookings where this happy new family thrived and grew with the addition of Paula Penelopy and Brent James. Gardening , investment clubs, pheasant hunting, brome grass fields, State field trips to visit the "plots" , Golden K, whittling, and holiday celebrations were a few of Paul's passions. The cabin at Lake Poinsett was a favorite destination for his friends and family. He found joy in surrounding himself with beautiful orchids later in life. In the community of Brookings, Paul was particularly active in the Scouting programs, working with both the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. Additionally, he was a devoted and hard working member of the First Baptist Church for over 50 years. He will be greatly missed by his children: Brent (Deb) Carson of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Connie (Danny) Keever of Gladstone, Missouri, Paula Carson of Brookings, and Karen Ann Hampton of Vancouver, Washington; seven grandchildren: Dana Keever, Toni Laster, Brett Keever, Jeff Keever, Deanne Keever, Ben Carson, and Lucas Carson; 13 great-grandchildren; Zak Laster, Trent Keever, Brooke Keever, Alex Laster, Bryanna Keever, Tyler Gebauer, Andrew Keever, Taylor Keever, Dylan Keever, Tanner Keever, Jessie Gebauer, Tara Keever, and Megan Keever; and two great-great-grandsons, Bryson Keever and Bentley Edman. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Evelyn; and son-in-law, Don. It is hard to say good-bye to this man. He will be so missed. He was a gentle, loving, and caring husband and father. He was a true friend. He was an honorable person. He was a kind soul and a very good man.