Arlien Winifred Carlson Obituary (1926 - 2010)

Arlien Carlson Arlien Winifred Carlson, 84, of Boyceville, WI went to be with her Lord and Savior on February 4, 2010. She passed while at the North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview, Florida after suffering a stroke. Arlien was born on the Hendrickson farm near Wheeler, Wisconsin on January 30, 1926, the first born of Lawrence and Catherine (Beaver) Hendrickson. At the age of 12, upon the death of her mother, she took a role in the raising of her siblings. Arlien graduated from Boyceville High School and then attended Eau Claire Teachers College (UW-Eau Claire) receiving a two year teaching degree. Upon graduation she taught in multiple one room rural schools, one of which was the Oak Ridge School located northwest of Boyceville. In 1948, Arlien married the love of her life, Raymond Allen Carlson, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Boyceville, and from this union were born three sons. She put her career aside to devote herself to her husband, children and the family farm. In the fall of 1988 Arlien's desire for learning lead her back to college and in the winter of 1992 she graduated cum laude from UW-Stout with a B.S. in Child Development and Family Life. After graduation she began a new career, when many would be retiring, by becoming the Director of the Boyceville Senior Center and Director of the Senior Nutrition Program. In 1989, Arlien also began working at what was to be a most rewarding and fulfilling career at Aurora Residential where she continued to work until her death. At Aurora she participated in home health care for developmentally disabled adults as a Personal Care Worker, Community Living Assistant, and as an Activities Coordinator. Arlien was a passionate protector and advocate for the developmentally disabled. She was an active promoter of Second Harvest Food Bank and was also a Treasurer for the Town of Tiffany. Arlien is survived by her eldest son, Alan (Ellen) Carlson of Boyceville, grandson Scott (Tracy) Carlson, great grandchildren Parker and McKenzie of Menomonie, and granddaughter Carla (Tim) Bouwkamp of Madison; her second son, Rolin (Sally) Carlson of Boyceville, grandson Thornton (Amanda) Carlson, great grandchild Gabriel of Mosinee, grandson Spencer (Gretchen) Carlson of Racine, granddaughters Jessie Carlson of Boyceville and Anna Carlson of Kentucky; and by her youngest son, John Carlson of Crestview, FL; one sister Annabelle (Evenson) (Orrie) Brettingen of River Falls; brother-in-law Norm Hagen of Glenwood City; sister-in-law Helen Hendrickson of Waukesha; nieces, nephews, cousins and life-long friends and neighbors. Arlien was preceded in death by Raymond Carlson; her parents; siblings: Lawrence Jr., Arliss Brettingen, Eleanora Hendrickson, Mary Hagen; brother-in-law Glen Evenson; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Boyceville with Pastor Bradley Peterson officiating Visitation will be from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m., Monday, February 8 at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Undesignated memorials will be donated to Smile Train in Arlien's name. Burial of Cremains will take place at a later date. To express condolences online, please visit obituaries at www.olsonfuneral.com