Harold Norman Carlson

Harold Carlson, age 88, a resident of Fergus Falls formerly of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota died on Thursday, September 25 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.Harold Norman Carlson was born on September 28, 1925, in Friberg Township of Otter Tail Co., MN the son of Helge N. and Jerutia (Elliott) Carlson. He was baptized and confirmed at Central Lutheran Church and attended school at District #35. He served in the U.S. Navy Amphibious Force on the L.S.T. in the Pacific from 1944 to 1946. On April 4, 1954, he married Melinda A. Westby at Central Lutheran Church of rural Pelican Rapids. The couple resided in rural Pelican Rapids. Harold started farming in 1946 and continued until 1987 when he retired. The couple moved to Pelican Rapids in 1994. He was a member of Central Lutheran Church and sang in the church choir for over 70 years. He sang with the Central Quartet there for 35 years, Central Men's Choir and the Pelican Male Choir. He served on the church board, cemetery board and was also a Hi League Counselor. He was an A.A.L (Aid Association for Lutherans) branch officer, a Thrivent member, served on the AMPI board for the Pelican Rapids creamery, 4-H leader and a member of the Saddle Club where he enjoyed horses. He volunteered as a driver for Otter Tail County Social Services Pelican Prism program and OAKS. Harold also assisted with woodworking crafts for the residents at the Good Samaritan Nursing home where he also volunteered for singing. Harold enjoyed singing, reading Louie L'Amour westerns, woodworking, traveling on bus tours, the neighbor's "kids." Preceding him in death were his parents, two sisters: Elizabeth "Betty" Bergren-Ohman and Dorothy Lien, son-in-law, Mark Friesz.Harold is survived by his wife, Melinda; three children: Naomi Friesz of Bismarck, Timothy (Rae) of East Moline, Illinois and Patty Carlson of St. Paul; four grandchildren, Jason (Kayla) and Matthew Friesz, Ryan and Lane Carlson & Alexandra Benzon; two great-grandsons: Ethan and Walt Friesz; three brothers, Eugene of Pelican Rapids, Richard (Alice) of Erhard and Larry (Carol) of Pelican Rapids; along with many nieces and nephews.Memorials are preferred to HAP (Handicap Accessible Project) at Central Lutheran ChurchVisitation: Sunday September 28, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:00 p.m.at Larson Funeral Home, Pelican Rapids, MN. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.Service: 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 29, 2014 at Central Lutheran Church, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.Clergy: Pastor Phillip Enn TobinBurial: Central Lutheran Cemetery, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.Funeral Home:Larson Funeral Home304 3rd Street S.E.Pelican Rapids, MNUS 56572