Judy W. Carlson, age 85, of Parkers Prairie, died on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at St. William’s Living Center in Parkers Prairie. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 9, 2019, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie with Rev. Rachel Stout and Pastor Jeremy Schneider officiating.
Music is provided by organist, Julie Lindgren and vocalists, Dan Olson, Brian and Cindy Carlson. Interment will take place at Swedish Lutheran Cemetery, Parkers Prairie. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday at First Evangelical Lutheran Church and will continue one hour prior to the service.
Judith Esther was born on July 7, 1933, in Minneapolis and was adopted nine months later by her parents, Christopher and Edna (Westmark) Waro. Judy grew up in Minneapolis and attended public schools, finishing her education at Patrick Henry High School in North Minneapolis. Following her education, she worked as a licensed practical nurse.
Judy was united in marriage to Warren H. Carlson at Camden Covenant Church in North Minneapolis on July 5, 1952. Following their marriage, they lived at Camp Atterbury in Columbus, Indiana where Warren was stationed. When he was deployed to Japan and Korea, Judy returned to Minneapolis to live near her parents.
While Warren was serving overseas, Judy found a recording studio in Minneapolis, where she recorded songs to sing and sent them to him. Following his honorable discharge in November of 1953, they lived in Faribault for a short time before moving to the family farm north of Parkers Prairie in 1954. Judy was a homemaker and raised her seven children on the farm and was active in her church, First Evangelical Lutheran.
She enjoyed being a part of WELCA and the ladies study club. She also enjoyed music and sang for many special events along with duets with her husband, Warren. Judy loved flower and vegetable gardening, canning and antiquing.
She and her husband moved from the farm into Parkers Prairie in 1996. They were antique dealers for 18 years and had their business, Antiques & Accents in both Alexandria and Brainerd until 2001. Judy worked as a retail sales associate for Herbergers in Alexandria from 2000-2007.
Together, Judy and Warren enjoyed playing Bunco with friends and neighbors, couples bowling and traveling for State and National Turkey Growers Association meetings. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Ruthanne Waro; and grandson, Ethan Odenthal. Judy is survived by her husband of 66 years, Warren; seven children, Christopher (Alicia Buvarp) Carlson of Parkers Prairie, Cynthia (Kirk) Johnson of Center City, Clark Carlson of Parkers Prairie, Cathy (Tom) Odenthal of Shakopee, Curt Carlson of Parkers Prairie, Collin Carlson of Grand Forks, North Dakota and Candance Carlson of Chanhassen; 12 grandchildren, Laine (Kevin) Crump, Logan (Matthew) Johnson, Lukas (Sophia) Johnson, Lexis Johnson, Evan Odenthal, Quinn Odenthal, Zachary Odenthal, Courtney Odenthal, Blake Odenthal, Gabrielle Carlson, Brittany Carlson and Jade Carlson; five great-grandchildren, Fox, Theodore, Juniper, Bradley and Emerson; two sisters-in-law, Marge Carlson and Gloria Butler; and nieces, nephews along with numerous other relatives.
Pallbearers are Lyle Oeltjenbruns, Terry Carlson, Brian Carlson, Don Berglund, Mike Jahnke, and Gary Olson. Honorary pallbearers are Roy Olson, Dan Olson, David Olson, David Carlson, Dan Carlson and Marty Berglund.
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