At age fourteen, he and his father traveled to Iola, Kansas where they farmed for about a year. Upon their return to Jacksonville, he helped with the farm work and continued his education. His brother, Henry, lived in Omaha, Nebraska and encouraged Dad to attend Boyles Business College in Omaha and also Wesley University in Lincoln, Nebraska. Loneliness brought Dad back to Iowa where he enrolled at Oliver Business College in New Hampton and earned an Inter-State School of Commerce degree in Commercial Studies. Upon graduation, he obtained employment with the Great Northern Railroad as a secretary for the Master Mechanic, traveling en route between Havre and Whitefish, Montana.

His first break in work brought Carl back to where he married Marie Henrietta Hereid, daughter of Ole and Mary (Offerdahl) Hereid. The marriage took place at the bride's home and two days later they returned to Havre, Montana.

Mother returned to Iowa before Anna, the eldest of their eleven children, was born. Dad followed shortly thereafter and they resumed their lives farming the homeplace. We children were all born there, received our education at the Jacksonville school and the New Hampton High School. We were confirmed at the Crane Creek Lutheran Church.

Our memories of growing up include many family dinners and gatherings. They not only enjoyed the company and friendship of their siblings but it was important that we children were friends of our Munson and Hereid cousins. The door was open for all relatives and friends.

As time passed, Carl's secretarial interest continued. He worked for the Jerico Creamery and with the government programs in the ASCS in Chickasaw County.

As they approached retirement age, the travel bug took over. In 1953, they boarded a bus and rode to Providence, Rhode Island where their daughter, Mary Lou, lived. While there, they visited Plymouth Rock, and Bunker Hill in Boston and then New York City where they walked around Times Square at night, and crossed the Brooklyn and Washington Bridges. The Empire State Building was also a great attraction. In 1965, they flew back East but this time to Washington, D. C. At that time they saw the Smithsonian Institute and viewed congress in session, toured the White House and visited the Lincoln Memorial. Mount Vernon seemed to hold a special remembrance for them.

Roy and Alberta Hereid Miller invited them to visit their Harrisburg, Pennsylvania home and the nearby Gettysburg Military Park.