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| Alden Carlson, 66 |
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| Written by TRF Times |
 Thief River Falls - Alden “Aldy” M. Carlson, 66, of Thief River Falls, died on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011 at the Veterans Hospital in Fargo, N.D.Funeral services were held Friday Aug. 12, 2011 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, with Rev. Mark Helgeland officiating. Honorary casketbearers include Alden’s grandchildren, Benjamin, Grant, Connor and Zachary Greni, and Wyatt Ulvin; Alden’s Marine comrades in service; Alden’s construction colleagues; and his many lifelong friends. Military honors were provided by the American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post 117, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2793 and the Minnesota Army National Guard Honor Guard. Interment was held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Alden Meryle Carlson was born at the family home in Stephen, on June 19, 1945 the eighth of twelve children born to C. Albert and Agda (Strid) Carlson. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Stephen. Alden attended elementary school in Stephen and graduated from the Northwest Agriculture School in Crookston, in 1963.  He entered into service with the United States Marine Corps on Nov. 18, 1965. He served in the Vietnam War, where he was awarded the Purple Heart. He was Honorably Discharged on November 17, 1967. Alden then returned to Stephen, where he worked for Roy Benson Construction and also worked on the family farm. On March 22, 1969, Alden was united in marriage to Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Sorensen at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Warren. To this union, three children were born, Jane, Gretchen and Nathan. They lived in Stephen for a few years and in 1973, moved to Thief River Falls, where he attended the Area Vocational Technical Institute for carpentry. In 1974, the family moved to a small hobby farm in Norden Township just west of Thief River Falls where they have continued to reside. They raised polled hereford cattle and small grains. Aldy worked for various construction companies including RAM Builders and later for Kraus-Anderson. He retired in 2007. Throughout his years in construction, Aldy developed many close working and personal relationships. He considered everyone he met a friend and enjoyed visiting. His laugh and sense of humor were well known and appreciated. In his earlier years, Aldy enjoyed hunting, playing cards, and throughout his life he enjoyed fishing, especially with his son, Nathan. Aldy loved the outdoors. As Grandpa, his five grandsons were the light of his life; he enjoyed four-wheeling, eating lunch in the tree fort, giving them hay rides, and hugging and snuggling with them. He always owned and bred registered German shepherd dogs and had a special relationship with them. Survivors include his loving wife of 42 years, Betty of Thief River Falls; children, Jane Elizabeth (Jason) Greni of Otsego, Gretchen Sue (Michael) Ulvin of Circle Pines, Nathan Carlson of Thief River Falls; grandchildren, Benjamin, Grant, Connor and Zachary Greni, Wyatt Ulvin; brothers and sisters, Corrine Krogh, Marian Bates, Larry (June) Carlson, Edwin (Angel) Carlson, Janice (Willard) Landreville, Allard (special friend Debbie Stallock) Carlson, Carole (Jeffrey) Winter and Donna (Richard) Wilson; mother-in-law, Margaret Sorensen of St. Paul; Betty’s brothers and sisters and their families; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law, Harold Sorensen; granddaughter, Sophia Ulvin; brothers, Sidney, Dennis and Leroy; and brothers-in-law, James Krogh and Donald Bates. Memorials preferred to the Alden Carlson Memorial at Redeemer Lutheran Church. A00003B2011AG17  |
