Phyllis R. Carlson

MASON CITY Phyllis R. Carlson, age 89, of Mason City, formerly of Red Wing, MN, died Saturday, February 20, 2010, at Heritage Care Center in Mason City. Memorial Services will be held 10:30 A.M. Wednesday (February 24, 2010) at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 615 West 5th St., Red Wing, MN 55066 with Rev. David Jore officiating.
Inurnment will be held at a later date in the spring in Red Wing, MN. There will be no visitation; per Phylliss wishes she was cremated. Memorials may be directed to the Phyllis R. Carlson memorial fund in care of the family.
Phyllis was born April 2, 1920 in Red Wing, MN, the daughter of Alf and Ellen (Soderholm) Nelson. She graduated from High School in Red Wing, MN. She was married to Rev. John Norman Carlson on February 14th, 1943 in Red Wing, MN to this union three children were born.
She enjoyed spending time with her family, bowling, TOPS, horseback riding, camping, cooking, swimming, reading, crafts, playing cards, skiing, ice skating, and was a basketball player in High School. She was an avid bargin hunter.
She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City, IA. She worked closely with her husband in a counseling and mentoring capacity at the Avon Childrens home in Avon Massachusetts. They also assisted WWII refugees in starting new lives in the United States. Phyllis was involved with womens groups at Lutheran churches in California, Montana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. She worked as a nurse aide, home health care provider, and secretary at Johnson County Human Services in Iowa City, IA
Phyllis is survived by her children, Steven Carlson and wife Julie of Big Fork MT, Kenneth Carlson and wife Sally of Kenton, OH, Susan Dahlstrom of Mason City; six grandchildren, Kim, Curt, John, Paul, Kelsey and Savannah, and six great-grandchildren; and brother, Arnold Nelson and wife Delphine of Red Wing, MN.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Rev. John Norman Carlson; brother, Harold Nelson and wife Betty, twin brother Philip Nelson and wife Shirley of Northfield, MN, and nephew Brian Nelson.