Douglas Carlson

Douglas A. Carlson, 71, Bismarck, died January 27, 2004 at a local hospital. Services will be held at 1:00 PM Thursday, at First United Methodist Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Kermit Culver officiating. Burial will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, with military rites by VFW Post 1326. Visitation will be from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM Wednesday at Eastgate Funeral Service. Douglas Arthur Carlson was born February 12, 1932, in Elgin, North Dakota, the son of Arthur Rudolph "Swede" and Mathilda "Tillie" Schultz Carlson. He grew up on a farm south of Elgin, attended Carlson Country School, and graduated from Elgin High School. He went to the School of Telegraphy in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He served in the US Army from the fall of 1952 to December 1955. On November 24, 1957, he married Loretta Schafer of New Leipzig and they moved to Bismarck. Doug was employed as a depot agent for Milwaukee Railroad, worked for Sweetheart Bakery, Super Valu, Inc. and Lloyd's Oil Company as a manager of a gas station and bulk plant. In 1964 he and Loretta moved with their family to Beulah, ND where Doug continued to work in management with Lloyd's Oil Co. They returned to Bismarck in 1968. He also managed McDowell's Big Boy and worked at General Tire. He began working with Century Mercury Freight Company in 1974 where he remained lead dock man and driver until his retirement in November 1992. Douglas received the 1,000,000 Mile Safe Driving Award and the Bismarck Tribune Volunteer of the Month for his work with Burleigh County Senior Adults and Home Delivered Meals. He was known as "Mr. Fixit" and his grandchildren believed that Grandpa could fix anything. He enjoyed fishing, hunting pheasants, traveling, and camping with family and friends. Douglas's faith in Christ Jesus was very important to him. He was patriotic and was proud of his service in the military and was a devoted father and grandfather. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, where he served as Sunday School Superintendent for many years. He was active on many church committees and attended, Thursday morning prayer group. He was a member of the New Leipzig American Legion and the Teamsters Union. Douglas is survived by his wife, Loretta; his children, Tammy Winton Boyd of Madison, WI, Londa Michael Holen of Bismarck, and Scott Debbie Carlson of Monroe, WI; his grandchildren, Tallis, Kythie, and Rein Boyd, Benjamin and Andrew Holen, Amanda, Natalie, Whitney, and Sergei Carlson, Lindsay and Amanda Rudkin; and his sisters-in-law, Jane Carlson of Elgin and Bea Carlson of Fargo. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Martin and Don Carlson.

Douglas Carlson

February 12, 1932 - January 27, 2004