Obituary: Blenda Carlson

Blenda Carlson

Sheyenne, N.D.

Blenda Carlson, 92, of Sheyenne, N.D., passed away peacefully at her home in rural Sheyenne, N.D. on Wednesday, August 3, 2022.

Blenda's visitation was Sunday, August 7, 2022 from 2 - 6 p.m. at Evans Funeral Home, New Rockford. A funeral service was held on Monday, August 8, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Sheyenne, N.D. Her burial was at the Riverside Cemetery, Sheyenne, N.D. Pastor Jeff Halvorson officiated the service. Soloist, Karla Berglund sang "On Eagle's Wings" accompanied by organist, Eunice Throlson. Congregational hymns were "Beneath The Cross of Jesus", "Rock of Ages" and "What a Friend we have in Jesus." Pallbearers were Sven Carlson, Jon Carlson, Carlton Dick, Galen Dick, Gretchen Berglund and Nicholas Berglund. Honorary bearers were all of Blenda's family and close friends.

Blenda Eleanor Carlson was born on April 17, 1930 in Twin Tree Township, Benson County, the daughter of Sven Wilgoth Sr. and Jennie (Anderson) Carlson. Blenda was baptized and confirmed into membership of the Grace Lutheran Church, Sheyenne. She received her education at Lone Tree #2 and graduated from Benson County Agriculture and Training School in 1950. After the death of their father in 1950, Aileen, Blenda and Linnea gave up their career plans to work the farm and help their mother raise the younger children. Blenda worked hard physically all of her life. She was known to be the strong one and could pitch hay in the winter to fill a hay rack without a break. The procession to the cemetery will be led by one of the tractors she used during her lifetime of farming.

She was President of the North Dakota Republican Women, which included trips to Washington, DC and several other states. Her travels also took her to Sweden seven times including a Eurorail ride to Germany to visit her brother Mauritz and family stationed there. Since Swedish was Blenda's first language, there was no language barrier on these trips. She traveled several times to Canada and once to Alaska. She loved poetry and frequently quoted parts of poems she had memorized. She was an accomplished leather crafter. Making numerous projects from simple luggage tags to completing hand tooled saddles. She loved horses all her life and said she knew there are horses in heaven because of Elijah's chariot.

Blenda is survived by three sisters Linnea Carlson, Sheyenne; Eunice (Newton) Dick, Lorena, Texas; Judith Sorenson, Queen Creek, Ariz.; two brothers Wilgoth Jr. (Gail) Carlson and Mauritz (Eilene) Carlson, both of Sheyenne; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters Aileen Berglund and Vivian Carlson, baby brother John Carlson, brothers-in-law Harry Sorenson and Erland Berglund, nephews Johnathan Berglund and Erik Carlson and great nephew "Lil" Sven Carlson.

Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home of New Rockford, N.D.