Paul Brentrup, 50, Rapid City, S.D., formerly of New England, died Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at MedCenter One, Bismarck after a brief struggle with lung cancer. Paul’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Friday, January 20, 2012, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, New England, with Fr. Patrick Moore, OSB as the celebrant. Inurnment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, with a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m., with Deacon Victor Dvorak presiding.

Paul was born on February 1, 1961, the son of Hubert and Millie (Narum) Brentrup, New England.

Paul loved hunting and fishing of any kind and he was very good at both.  He made many trips each year to North Dakota to hunt pheasant and fish for walleyes with his family.  He shot a prize 5X5 elk by scouting for weeks in the Black Hills. As for fishing, Paul was lucky.  He always seemed to be the one collecting the bets on the first, the biggest, or the most fish caught that day.  Many of those days would end around the kitchen table for a game of cribbage or pinochle.  He excelled at both these games and often collected any winnings to be had there, too.  He enjoyed other successful hunting and fishing trips in Canada, New Mexico, and Colorado.

Paul was a wonderful brother, uncle and friend. He had a quiet nature and a great sense of humor.  He was soft-spoken, worth listening to and easy to get along with. Paul was an avid hockey fan.  As a life-long supporter of the Green Bay Packers, he loved his family’s recent Christmas gift making him a team owner and shareholder.

Paul graduated from New England Public High School in 1980.  He worked for many years as an engineering technician for American Engineering, Rapid City.  A few years ago, Paul began working as an equipment operator for Oberlander Farms north of Rapid City. Paul really liked farming and found the work peaceful, interesting and rewarding.

Survivors include four sisters; Jan Byrd of Madison, S.D., Renee King, Gillette, Wyo., Patricia (Mart) Cox, Billings, Mont., and Cindy (Ed) Striebel, Black Hawk, S.D.; and five brothers;  Ron, Bowman, Rick (Linda), Littleton, Colo.,  Neil (Shirley), Dickinson, Greg, Dickinson, and Barry, New England; and six nieces and ten nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Jerry, and one niece, Dakota Culkin.