Richard 'Dick' Morris Carlson

Richard Morris Carlson, the son of Morris and Irma (Vandervort) Carlson was born December 19, 1937, in Albert City, Iowa. His childhood years were spent on a farm in that area where he attended school and graduated in 1956. Until joining the National Guard in May of 1960, he was employed at a Mobil gas station in Albert City. Upon completion of his guard training in November of 1960, he married Betty (Essick) on November 24, 1960 and they made their home in Spencer. Dick was a people person and enjoyed working with employees of Spencer Dairy, Arnold Motors and Johnston Automotive where he was still actively employed when he became ill with a brain tumor in November of 2009. Rich accepted Christ during his early teen years while attending the Albert City Free Church. Upon moving to Spencer he became a member of the First Baptist Church where he served several terms on the deacon board, missions committee and thoroughly enjoyed singing in the church choir. His walk with Christ was an important part of his life and looked forward each August to being a part of the Okoboji Bible and missionary conference serving the last several years as a volunteer and spent one term on the conference board. His heart was filled with a loving, caring spirit so was very proud of his two daughters, Rae Lynn and Jodi, and later when Mark and Kevin joined his family his love only grew. The seven grandchildren brought him so much joy he would often call them anytime of the day just to see what they were doing. Richard passed away on Saturday morning, November 13, 2010 at the age of 72. He was preceded in death by his father, Morris. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Betty of Spencer; two daughters and their families: Rae Lynn and Mark Stevens of Eden Prairie, MN and Jodi and Kevin DeReus of Otley, IA; seven grandchildren: Michelle, Jonathan, Christine, Emily, Sarah, Ben and Katelyn; his mother, Irma Carlson of Sartell, MN; two sisters: Carol Herman and John of Eagen, MN and Betty Carlson of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; three brothers: Leonard and Sandi of St. Cloud, MN, Gene and Linda of Wheaton, IL and Dale and Carolyn of Palatine, IL; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

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