Alice (Lovrien) CARLSON

CARLSON, ZEMAN, LOVRIEN, LAURITSEN, WILLIAMS, PELLEY, ZWEIFEL, LEONARD, PORTER, MEYERS, STUMBO, CARLBLOM, OHRTMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:48

January 15, 1919 --- July 29, 2018

Alice Carlson, 99, of Spencer, died on July 29, 2018, in Spencer. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at the Riverside Evangelical Free Church in Linn Grove. Burial will be in the Barnes Township Cemetery in Linn Grove. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Alice was born on Jan. 15, 1919, in Eagle Grove, the third of nine children to Emma Zeman and George Lovrien. She graduated from Linn Grove High School in 1936. She met Donald Carlson while working at his family’s grocery store, and they were married on Feb. 27, 1938. She and Don were blessed with four children: Mary Lee, David, James and Julie.

Alice and Don farmed together for 50 years in Linn Grove, Iowa and together bought four farms, renovating and/or building houses, barns, and other structures on each property. Alice’s children remember her working alongside Don and even driving the combine or tractor when the need arose. She taught her children by example the value of hard work and the importance of dedication to family and community. You could often find Alice out in her garden weeding and picking produce. She would pickle, can, or freeze her produce and her kitchen was always filled with delicious breads, food and treats. Alice had a tradition of hosting Sunday meals for any family and close friends who were able to come, a tradition that her children have continued regularly with their own families. Alice could pull together dinner for a large crowd with ease and enjoyed gathering everyone together to socialize and have a wonderful meal.

Alice was an active member of her church and community for many years. She and Don attended and were members at Riverside Presbyterian Church. There, Alice was involved with Ladies’ Circle, Ladies’ Aid, AWANA, teaching Sunday School, and she sang in various duets, trios and choir with her wonderful alto voice. Alice was an active member of the Women’s Federated Club. She was always willing to provide meals, flowers, and vegetables to anyone in the community. She knit baby blankets for her great grandchildren and knit thousands of mittens and scarves for whoever wanted or needed them. Many babies were adorned with her booties as well.

Later in life, Alice moved to Riverview Assisted Living in Spencer where she sang, participated in the bell choir, square dancing, Bible studies, and chapel. She loved visiting with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also loved that two of her sisters lived close and visited often.

Alice will be remembered for her wonderful hugs and kisses, good humor, unmistakable laugh, and her love of the Lord. She has impacted every member of her family with the love that she showered on her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Alice was preceded in death by her beloved husband Don; sisters: Inez Lauritsen and Ruth Lovrien; brothers-in-law: Delbert Williams, Lester Lauritsen, Clair Pelley, Bob Zweifel, Ted Leonard and Howard Porter; and sister-in-law, Corabelle “Susie” Lovrien. Alice is survived by her children: Mary Lee (Melvin) Meyers of Linn Grove, David (Norma) Carlson of Iowa City, James Carlson (special friend Natalie Stumbo) of Fargo, North Dakota, and Julie (Torrey) Carlblom of Saint Peter, Minnesota; siblings: Gladys Zwiefel of Spirit Lake, Hope Leonard of Sac City, Helen Porter of Spencer, Shirley (Ray) Ohrtman of Spencer, Glen (Pat) Lovrien of Glendale, California, and Bob Lovrien of Rockford, Illinois; 14 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

https://www.sliefert.com/notices/Alice-Carlson