Cynthia Eva Carlson, “Ogimaakwe” which means “Leader Woman” age 63, of the Bear Clan and Redby, Minnesota began her spiritual journey on Saturday, May 11th, 2019. She was born in Red Lake, MN on July 3rd, 1955, the daughter of Doris (Graves) and Carl Edwin Carlson, Sr. Cindy was born in Red Lake, MN and was raised on the Red Lake Reservation. She was the rebellious one of her brothers and sisters.
Cindy grew up on the reservation all her life and attended school in Red Lake, MN, graduating in 1973. Soon after graduation, she obtained employment with the Red Lake School District as a para-professional, a teacher’s aide. For a short time, Cindy worked with fifth graders and later worked with kindergarten children for the remainder of her career.
In 2006, she graduated from Northwest Technical College of Bemidji with a Paraprofessional Degree. She retired in 2012 after 38 years of service to the school district and her community. She quietly enjoyed the rest of her years at her home in Redby, MN and the last two years at the Woodsedge (Neilsen Place) Care Facility in Bemidji, MN.
In her free time, she enjoyed watching crime and drama shows on TV with the company of her two cats, Milan and Cali. Cindy also enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, crosswords and reading. She loved visits and calls from family and friends, particularly her special granddaughter Macy Leigh Johnson.
Cindy was a pillar of strength for her family and friends. She was kind, compassionate and had a beautiful smile. She will always be with us in spirit.
Family that Cynthia is reunited with are her parents; Doris and Carl Carlson, Sr., sister; Rhonda Graves, maternal grandparents; Charles and Eva (Day) Carlson, paternal grandparents; Susan (Wright) and Peter Graves, Sr., aunt; Esther Carlson, her best friend; Nancy Beaulieu and many other relatives. Those she leaves behind to cherish her memory are her son; Dayton (Alice) Carlson of Bemidji, sisters; Pearl Carlson and Sister Mary Lou Carlson, brothers; Carl Edwin Carlson, Jr. and Wayne Carlson, special granddaughter; Macy Johnson, nieces; Ada and Cheryl Carlson, nephews; Jonathan (Denise) Carlson and Carl E. Carlson III, cousins; Roxanne Graves, Leah Spears, Marie Spears, Ambrose Graves, Donald Spears, Jr. and Myrna Spears, as well as numerous other family members and many friends. A wake for Cynthia will begin at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 14th at the Redby Community Center in Redby, MN and continue until her 1:00 p.m. funeral service at St. Antipas Episcopal Church in Redby, MN on Thursday, May 16th.
Pallbearers for Cynthia will be Michael Spears, James Johnson, Oliver Johnson, Sr., Ambrose Graves, Charles Colhoff and Harrison Dudley. Alternate pallbearers are Harley Graves, James Dudley, Sr. and Richard Clark, Jr. Her honorary pallbearers are Mavis Strong, Wilfred “Willy” Strong, Don Spears, Jr., Donna Spears, Margo Oliver, Jess Hanson-Otting, Judy Faymoville, Jan Peterson, Winona Dudley, Melody Strong, all of her family, the Woodsedge Staff and Residents and all of her Red Lake School District Co-Workers. Interment will be in the St. Antipas Episcopal Cemetery in Redby, MN Cynthia’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.
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