V. Eleanor Carlson

LAUREL — V. Eleanor Carlson, 94, Laurel, Oct. 26, 2018, at the Hillcrest Care Center, Laurel. Visitation will be Thursday at the Evangelical Free Church, from 6-8 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m., and will continue Friday, at the church, one hour prior to the service. Funeral services will be Nov. 2, at 10 a.m., at the Evangelical Free Church, Concord, with Pastor Todd Thelen officiating. Burial will follow at the Concord Cemetery, Concord. Pallbearers will be Eleanor’s grandsons, Scott Carlson, Joseph Carlson, Ben Carlson, Geoffrey Carlson, Vincent Carlson, Sean Carlson, Chad Carlson, Micah Hansen, Nick Hansen and Tyler Hansen. Honorary pallbearers will be granddaughters, Debra Carlson, Sharon Longe, Lara Schwendemann, Karissa Carlson and Makayla Garcia and her great-grandchildren. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Laurel. V. Eleanor Carlson was born Dec. 31, 1923, near Laurel, to Elmer and Venessa (Burns) Graffis. She attended school at District 83 and graduated from Laurel Public Schools. In 1943, Eleanor trusted the Lord as her Savior following the passing of her mother from a long-term illness and within three days of her brother’s passing in the Pacific theater of WWII. Eleanor married Harold Carlson Feb. 16, 1946, at the Logan Center Church, rural Laurel. While attending the church, she was a Sunday school teacher and involved in the women’s ministries. Eleanor was a very faithful and loving wife to Harold. They farmed and raised their children north of Laurel. She was a member of the Evangelical Free Church, Concord, where she was active in the AWANA program and loved going to White Cross. Eleanor was very involved with the children at their country school and often took kids to tour local businesses. She enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s activities, baking, and doing handwork; and she always had an open door policy with her grandchildren to come and “snitch” food whenever they pleased. Eleanor is survived by her children, Richard (Judy) Carlson, Laurel; Eldon (Susan) Carlson, Bloomer, Wis.; Gregory (Donna) Carlson, Streamwood, Ill.; Larry (Vikki) Carlson, Laurel; and Lori (Dan) Hansen, Laurel; 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Alice Graffis, Laurel; and her nieces and nephews. Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold, in 2007; brothers and sister-in-law, Emory and Raymond/Edith Graffis; brothers and sisters-in-law, Hilvie/LaVern Peterson, Mable Carlson, Milton/Agnes Carlson, Clifford/ Lucille Carlson and Melvin/Fonielle Carlson.