Kenneth "Ken" W. Carlson

Kenneth William Carlson, 94, passed away at Benefis Skilled Nursing Center on Saturday, October 17, 2015. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 10 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, 5300 9th Avenue South. O’Connor Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Ken, the youngest of nine children, was born on the family farm in Columbus, North Dakota to Axel and Hulda Carlson on August 17, 1921. He received his education in North Dakota and continued helping his parents on the farm until 1945. On Christmas day, 1943, this shy country boy married Gen Carlson, his childhood sweetheart. He was always very kind and protective of Gen, especially after the sudden death of her own mother when she was just a little girl. Ken was an honest, hardworking man who loved his family and friends. His hobbies included building, gardening, hunting and fishing, along with an occasional good prank he could play on his grandchildren. After moving his family from North Dakota to Great Falls, Ken went to work at the Smelter where he worked in the wire mill, the acid refinery, and drove the tram. When the refinery closed, he moved his family to Valier where he worked as a farm laborer and on elevator construction. In 1969 he moved his family to Conrad where he worked at the Equity elevator treating grain, unloading trucks, and repairing anything and everything that broke down. Ken is survived by his wife of 71 years; son Lowell (Bonnie Lee) Carlson of Butte; daughters Karen (Duane) Philipps and Bonnie (Gary) Black both of Great Falls; 9 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-grandson; one great-great-grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; older siblings Minnie, Clifford, Ester, Clarence, Gladys, Clara, Richard, and his very dear brother, Vernon. Memorials can be gifted in his honor to his wife.