Carl A. Carlson

Carl Andrew Carlson was born and raised on the family farm in Hitterdal, MN on October 3, 1943. He died December 1, 2015 of a tragic accident, slipping on the ice at his farm, causing a fatal head injury. He was named for his grandfathers, Carl E. Carlson from Sweden and Andrew Selseth from Norway.

He graduated and enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17. It was there that his life of adventure began. He travelled the world, experiencing the French Riviera, Greece and bullfights in Spain. His ship, the USS William C. Lawe, was in the Cuban Missile Crisis blockade in 1962. He told stories of chasing a Russian nuclear submarine. Sometime later, his ship was in a typhoon off the coast of Cuba, almost washing him overboard had it not been for a friend that reached out and saved his life. Carl was in the hospital several days with a broken hip.

After the Navy Carl became a successful real estate salesman and broker, selling lake and resort properties throughout the United States.

Carl’s charismatic personality, his extraordinary sense of humor and love of people won him a circle of life-long friends wherever he went

He was married to Joan Kay Bryngelson from Detroit Lakes from 1983 to 1991. She passed away in 2008. He treasured his step-daughters, Michele, Christina, and Stephanie, and his granddaughter, Anastasia. They remained close to him all his life.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Erne and Lila Carlson, and his sister, Patricia Stalemo. He is survived by his sisters, Karen Christensen and Connie Carlson, his nieces and nephews, Edwin Stalemo, Paul Stalemo, John Sherman, Cory Terlecky, Jessie Stubstad, Ron, Mike and Ben Christensen and Kate Zahradka.

A celebration of Carl’s amazing life will be Saturday, December 12, 2015 at Salem Lutheran Church in Hitterdal, MN. Visitation will be from 11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. The funeral service will begin at 1:00 P.M. with lunch to follow. Burial will be at Salem East Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Carlson family.

Carl will be greatly missed by his loving family and his many friends.