Carlson, Elmer Gustav (1909-2005)

CARLSON

Posted By: John Schulte (email)
Date: 6/16/2005 at 12:17:39

Audubon County Advocate

Funeral services for Elmer Gustav Carlson, 96, Audubon, were conducted June 11, 2005 at First Presbyterian Church, Audubon, with Pastor Kay Steddom officiating. Honorary casket bearers were Louis Lauritsen, Eivind Lillihoj, Dale Edwards, Vern Jensen, Carolyn Mulford, Richard Crandall, care givers at the Friendship Home. Interment was in the Arlington Heights Cemetery, Audubon. Casket Bearers were Maren Peck, Richard Hamilton, William C. Pallas, Derek Peck, Tammy Hamilton, Anders Sand.

Elmer Gustav Carlson, the son of Swedish immigrants Charles Frederick and Christina Carlson Carlson, was born April 24, 1909, at his parents’ rural farm home near Massena, Cass County (Whitneyville), and died June 9, 2005, at the Friendship Home, Audubon.

The youngest of seven children, Elmer was two years old when the family purchased a farm in Melville Township, Audubon County and moved there to their long-time farm home. The family attended Lone Star Presbyterian Church in rural Guthrie County and Elmer attended the local rural school, Carlson School. He graduated from Audubon High School in 1929.

He helped out on the family farm during his youth. He became interested in corn hybridization.

While working in the Dakotas, he met Susan Tidball. The were married Sept. 7, 1937. In the late 30s he started Carlson’s Champion Hybrid Seed Corn business in Audubon.

Through the years, Elmer also operated Carlson Trucking, published the Audubon News-Guide, brought anhydrous ammonia as fertilizer to the area through Talbot-Carlson, Inc., developed Audubon’s Circle Drive, and owned and operated several farms.

Elmer was active in the Democratic Party and ran twice fo U.S. congress in the 1950s and participated in several Democratic National Conventions.

He was a life-long resident of Audubon County, and was a proud promoter of its community.

He resided at the Audubon Friendship Home since January of 2002. Elmer was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. He had been a member of several civic organizations.

Preceding him in death, were an infant son; his parents; his brothers and sisters and their spouses: Hilton, Carl (Ann), Arvid (Gladys), infant Anna Linnea, Hildur (Emil) Andreasen, and Albert (Mabel); his son-in-law, Richard Pallas; niece, Ina Foresman and Delia Sturgeon, nephew Gene Andreasen.

Survivors include his daughters: Nancy and Husband Leroy Sand of Kimballton; Jennifer and husband Gregory Pott of Mesa, AZ; his grandchildren: Susan and husband Ryan Brown, Gastonia, NC; Maren and husband Derek Peck, Fairfax; Anders Sand of Minneapolis, MN; Tammy and husband, Richard Hamilton of Mesa, AZ; William and wife, Suzanne Pallas of Chandler, AZ; his great-grandchildren: Katie Brown of Gastonia, NC; Joseph and Matthew Hamilton of Mesa, AZ; Taryn, Trenton and Jaelyn Pallas, of Chandler, AZ; his good friend, Louie Lauritsen; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.