Paul Thomas Carruthers

1962 - 2019

Paul Thomas Carruthers, 56, of Humboldt , South Dakota, died on August 10, 2019 in the Hospice Unit at the Sioux Falls VA hospital.

Paul was born to Robert and Joan Carruthers on November 18, 1962 in Morris, Minnesota. He graduated from Springfield Public School in 1981 and graduated from South Dakota State University in 1985. While at college he completed the ROTC program and became a U.S. Army Officer.

Upon graduation he moved to California and worked for United Airlines in Sioux Falls, Minneapolis and Los Angeles. In 1990, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and he was sent to Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait with active duty with the Army in Operation Desert Storm in the 250th Transportation Company. In 2000, he was promoted to Major. He again reported for active duty for 7 years and was stationed at Fort Snelling in Minnesota, and served as the Deputy Garrison Commander at Fort Hood, Texas. In 2008 Paul was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and reported to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. In 2010, Paul was promoted to the rank of Colonel and reported to the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois where he worked in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

Paul had a passion for fishing and hunting that he learned from his father. He had a love for animals and nature and also enjoyed traveling and was able to visit many different countries.

He is survived by his mother Joan, brother Dave (Linda), nieces Katie Carruthers and Emily Harlow (Jordan) and children Caleb and Hazel, aunts Alice Carruthers and Donna Tunge and many cousins and their families. He enjoyed his many friends that he met at United Airlines and in the Army.

A memorial service will be held  3:00pm Saturday, August 24, 2019 at Heritage Funeral Home.

Interment will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery 1:00pm Thursday, September 19, 2019.