Married in 1939, Morry and Dorothy Paulson began a life of service to the Lord. This included raising their three sons, Warren, Larry, and Randy, in a strong Christian home.
As an accomplished saxophone player and converted dance band leader, Morry turned his talent into a powerhouse for the Lord. He was an early pioneer of Youth for Christ, and served on the Constitution Committee for Youth For Christ International. He became known as "Uncle Morry" when he sang with the Uncles Quartet on the Children's Bible Hour. In addition, he served as Director of the Winona Lake Bible Conference, and was one of the originators of Gospel Films in Michigan. Morry also founded the original Youth Haven Boys' Home for troubled teenagers in Muskegon County, Michigan.
Morry & Dorothy's vision for the Ranches began on their drive to church one Sunday morning, when they saw children playing in the streets. This stirred the desire to reach out to children who were not receiving the love, care, and moral teaching they so desperately needed.
Together with their son Larry and his wife Cheri, Morry and Dorothy began to turn this vision into a real ministry in 1968. Acting on their faith in God's provision, they purchased several acres of land in Rives Junction and began to transform a field into a haven for underprivileged children.
Married that same year, Larry and Cheri spent the first years of their marriage living in a tiny attic apartment, investing their time and efforts into making Youth Haven's outreach a success. Over the years, they served the Ranch wherever there was a need - from pounding nails in the construction of a building to serving meals or applying Band-Aids. At the same time, Larry earned his Master's Degree in childhood education from Wheaton College, and the couple raised three boys, Eric, Lars, and Hans.
In 1982, a Tucson man named Palmer Miller donated 40 acres of desert property in Eloy, Arizona, for the purpose of beginning a Youth Haven Ranch in Arizona, and thus began the Desert Ranch.
Morry Carlson went to be with the Lord on May 1, 1994 and Dorothy followed on August 20, 2005. Larry and Cheri are still actively involved in Youth Haven's outreach, and their son Lars now carries on the founding vision of his parents and grandparents as Vice President of Youth Haven. Today, the Ranches reach thousands of disadvantaged children each year.
