Doris C Carlson

Doris C. Carlson, 90 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake. Doris Clara Ahlberg was born March 25, 1925 at 5:55 pm in Mora, MN and passed away on March 26, 2015 at the age of 90 in Devils Lake, ND. She was born on the family farm, along with her twin brother, Dale, to Enoch and Mabel (Johnson) Ahlberg. She was raised in Stanchfield, MN where she went to Country School and where out of 13 students, she and her brother were one of 3 sets of twins. She graduated from Worthington High School, Worthington, MN. She went one year to Minnesota School of Business and then attended Trinity College in Minneapolis, MN where she graduated with a degree in Christian Education. This is also where she met the love of her life, Erwin Carlson. Erwin and Doris were married on July 1, 1950 and were married for 53 years. Erwin was a minister for the Evangelical Free Church for over 50 years and Doris partnered with him in ministry by teaching Sunday School, writing Christmas programs, heading up the Women’s Ministry, playing the piano and opening up their home to anyone who needed a place to stay or a home-cooked meal. You cannot think of Doris without remembering the unfailing love that she had for her beloved husband Erwin. They loved singing together, holding each other’s hands and going wherever God led them – together. Throughout the course of their ministry together they served churches in Nebraska, Minnesota, Idaho, Oregon and Texas. They retired in Barrett, MN where Erwin continued to serve as Interim Pastor in various churches throughout the region. After Erwin’s passing, Doris moved to Devils Lake, ND to be near her daughter. Doris had a wonderful sense of humor and a creative mind. She was an imaginative storyteller and she loved writing a poem each year for her Christmas letter. She enjoyed doing counted cross-stitch and crossword puzzles and had an insatiable hunger for chocolate. She was known for her skills in the kitchen, especially her homemade bread and pies. She was gifted with memorization and could recall a song or poem for any situation. She also regularly memorized scripture, sometimes entire chapters and even books of the Bible. Doris lived God’s love every day and we so thankfully celebrate her life. Doris is survived by her four children, Tom (Kay) Carlson of Hurst, TX, Cathy (Danny) Jacobson of Devils Lake, ND, Joel Carlson of Honolulu, HI, and Jeff (Joe JaQuay) Carlson of Chicago, IL; grandchildren Lindsay (Will) Mortenson of West Des Moines, IA, Thomas (Bailey Hale) McCurdy of Barton, VT, Emma Carlson of Hurst, TX, Becky (Brock) Needham of Mandan, ND and Tony Jacobson of Fargo, ND; sister Edna Anderson of Worthington, MN; and special guardian angel and friend Phyllis Papachek of Devils Lake, ND. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Dale, Phil and Alder Ahlberg, and her husband, Erwin. There will be a private family service and burial will be in Union Cemetery, Elbow Lake, MN.