Margaret Vivian Carlson was born on February 9, 1917, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Ingrid (Sandberg) and Axel Carlson. At the age of two, the family moved to the rural Amery area. She was baptized and confirmed at Balsam Lutheran Church. After graduating from Amery High School, she completed the two years at River Falls Teachers College. She taught in one-room schools for five years, including Lincoln (Flannigan), Shiloh, and Apple River Valley. On June 14, 1942, she was united in marriage to Clifford Carlson at Balsam Lutheran Church, and was his steadfast partner in their dairy farming in Apple River Township. In 1962, she returned to teaching in the Amery School District, first at Range, and then in Amery. In 1969 they moved from the farm into Amery. In 1972, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from UW-River Falls and continued teaching in Amery until retiring in 1982. She was a life-long member of Balsam Lutheran Church and Our Savior's Lutheran where she was a Sunday School teacher and superintendent. She also participated in the women's organizations and the Bible Study groups. She had a special love to youth Bible Camps, especially Luther Point at Grantsburg, and Lake Wapogassett in Amery. Margaret loved sewing, embroidery, and cooking and baking. She loved trying new recipes, entertaining people for meals and entering cooking contests. In 1962 she was named a finalist in the Pillsbury Bake-Off and traveled to New York City to participate. She was also a wealth of information about family and area genealogy and enjoyed writing reminisces of her growing-up years. Even up to age 92, she enjoyed entering her writings and embroidery in the Polk County Fair. In 2001 she moved from her home to Evergreen Village and recently to Golden Age Manor where she passed away on Friday, November 25, 1011 at the age of 94.
Margaret was preceded in death her husband, Clifford (1987), parents Axel and Ingrid, sisters Dorothy, Lillian, and Louise, brothers Donald and Robert, and great-grandson, Grant Anderson. She is survived by son, Marlin (Norma) of New Brighton, MN, and daughter Judith (Norbert "Junior") Sonnek, of Foreston, MN, five grandchildren: Kellie (Robert) Brewer, Jennifer (Robert) Anderson, Aaron (Jennifer) Carlson, Eric Sonnek, and Kyle Sonnek; six great-grandchildren: Jacob Brewer, Nicholas Brewer, Peter Anderson, Natalie Anderson, Annika Carlson, and Henrik Carlson. She also leaves one brother Kenneth Carlson of Isanti, MN and other relatives and friends. "Joy comes from rejoicing in all you are; all that you have and all that you can be and from knowing that you are a part of God- A CHILD OF GOD"
A Celebration of her life will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Amery with Pastor Keith Ruehlow and Pastor Arlyn Tolzmann officiating. Organist will be Helen Osborn. Vocalists will be Paul Aune and Glen Wright. Casketbearers will be her grandsons: Aaron Carlson, Erick Sonnek, and Kyle Sonnek, and nephews Brian Tolzmann, Richard Carlson and Phillip Carlson. Interment will be at the Balsam Lutheran Cemetery. There will be visitation on Monday, November 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. and for the hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to Luther Point or Lake Wapogassett Bible Camps or the charity of your choice.