Elaine Carlson

Elaine Carlson, age 81, from Erskine, MN passed away on Wednesday, June 20th at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 26th at 11:00 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine, MN with Rev. Timothy Lundeen and Rev. Orval K. Moren officiating. Visitation will be held at Grace Lutheran Church on Monday, June 25th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM, and there will also be reviewal for one hour before the funeral at the church on Tuesday. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery, rural Erskine, and the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Erskine is in charge of the arrangements. Messages of condolence may be sent at www.carlinhoialmen.com.Elaine Marie Moren was born March 9, 1931, daughter of Albert and Jennie (Christianson) Moren, rural Mentor, MN. She was baptized in Hitterdal Lutheran Church at Maple Bay, and was confirmed in Maple Lake Lutheran Church, rural Mentor. Elaine attended Mentor Public School, graduating from high school in 1949. She then attended East Grand Forks Teacher Training and taught in rural school for a few years. Elaine and Allan Carlson were married at Maple Lake Lutheran Church on June 23, 1951. To this union four children were born: Robert, Ronald, Kathryn, and Gary.Elaine continued her education, attending Bemidji State University and graduating with a teaching degree in 1973. Elaine spent over 30 years of teaching in rural schools, Mentor Public School, and Erskine Public School. After retirement, she continued to substitute teach as well as teach Wednesday Release time classes. She was the current President of the Ladies Aid and served on the Church council. She was a member of the Mission Circle, Monday morning Bible Study, Quilting club at Grace, Garden club, Birthday Club, a member of the Red Hats Ladies, and spent many hours volunteering at the Pioneer Home. She was a board member of the Oklee Inter-County Community Council for a number of years, as well as board member of Erskine Community Housing. She enjoyed her flower beds and garden where she could grow potatoes from which she made countless pieces of lefsa. But most of all, she enjoyed entertaining family and friends, bonding with her grandchildren, and living a simple life with a strong faith in her Lord, Jesus. Elaine and her husband Allan owned and operated the Mentor Dairy Queen for ten years. They belonged to the Lakeside Square Dance Club a number of years. They enjoyed 56 years of marriage before Allan passed away in July 2007. In March 2012, Elaine was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She passed away on June 20, 2012 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks at the age of 81 years. She will be dearly missed by her family, her ladies groups, her church, her community, and all those who enjoyed her lefsa. Elaine is survived by her four children; sons, Robert (Trudy), Ronald (Jody), and Gary Carlson, and daughter, Kathryn (Pat) Johnson-Paquin; 10 grandchildren, Aaron (Brigette) Jennifer, Casey (Kim) Zachary (Haylie) Josie, and Colby Carlson, Justin (Ashley) and Eric (Christine) Johnson, Joshua and Molly Paquin; seven great grandchildren, Garrison, Jordan, Jorey, Amera, and Kalin Carlson, Teegan and Blair Johnson; brothers, Orval (Bernell), Don (Delores), Russ, and Jim (special friend, Jill) Moren; sister, Marilyn (Merlin) Carlson; brothers-in-law, Milton (Fern) Carlson, and Merlin (Marilyn) Carlson; aunt, Evelyn Johnson; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Allan; son-in-law, Scot Johnson; and sister-in-law, Marlys Moren.May the Lord bless her memory.