Lois Etta Carlson

Lois E. Carlson, 85, of rural Pelican Rapid, MN, died on August 8, 2012, at Sanford Health Center, Fargo, ND, with her family by her side. The Memorial Service for Lois will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 1, 2012, at Zion Lutheran church on Lake Franklin, Pelican Rapids. Visitation is one hour prior to the service at the church. Larson Funeral Home in Pelican Rapids is facilitating arrangements. Lois Etta (Finden) Carlson was born on October 18, 1926, in Oak Park, MN to Andrew and Etta (Nelson) Finden. Lois was baptized and confirmed in Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Oak Park. She graduated from Foley High School in June of 1945. She attended the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis. Upon graduation she worked for the DuPont Company in Minneapolis. Lois married Oscar E. Carlson, Jr. on September 18, 1948, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church. Oscar and Lois lived in Minneapolis, MN, Minot, ND, and Detroit Lakes, MN, where they were members of the First Lutheran Church. Lois worked at home raising their children and doing secretarial for Oscar in his home office as a territory manager for John Deere. They moved to Franklin Lake in 1975 and joined Zion Lutheran Church that same year. Lois was very active at Zion, working with the women's group, serving on Church Council and chairing numerous committees. She became well known for her work with the Zion Lutheran Meatball and Lutefisk Dinner. Lois found joy in making quilts for Lutheran World Relief, Lakes Crisis Center and Hospice of the Red River Valley with her friends in the Zion Quilters Group. Lois' hobbies were quilting, sewing, needlework, gardening, flower arranging and baking. In her early years she was always busy in her vegetable garden, picking berries with friends and canning for the winter months ahead. Throughout the years Lois loved sewing clothing for her family and grandchildren. In her later years she made many beautiful quilts for her children, grand and great-grandchildren. She also became well known for her cloth purses.Lois is survived by her children: son, Richard (Eunice), Hanska, MN; daughter: Linda (Dale) Westley, Detroit Lakes, MN. Her four granddaughters: Teresa (Mark) Wilson, Lindstrom, MN; Tally(Jacob) Miosek, Lake Park, MN; Amanda (Jesse) Ziegler, Navarre, FL, and their bundle of joy expected in early December; Whitney Westley and friend, Jacob Schumacher, St Cloud, MN. Two step-grandsons: Jacob Rettke, Butterfield, MN, and Jason (Jessica) Rettke, Waconia, MN. Her great-granddaughters: Kansas Gallagher, Lindstrom, MN, Maria and Ette Miosek, Lake Park, MN. Lois is also survived by her sister, Mildred (Les) Todd, Excelsior, MN; sister-in-law, Loretta (Rudy) Finden, Buffalo, MN; and several generations of nieces, nephews and cousins.She is preceded in death by her husband, Oscar, in 1983; her infant grandson, Brent Richard Carlson, her parents, Andrew and Etta Finden; two brothers: Kenneth and Rudy Finden; and sister-in-law, Marjorie (Ken) Finden.Funeral Home:Larson Funeral Home304 3rd Street S.E.Pelican Rapids, MNUS 56572