Marilyn Carlson
August 16, 1953 — April 1, 2024
Marilyn Ann Carlson, 70, of Stratford, Iowa passed away April 1, 2024, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska after a hard-fought long battle with liver disease. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Monday April 8, 2024 at the Stratford Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stratford with Pastor Alex Zenk and Retired Pastor Joe Lambert officiating. Visitation will be Sunday April 7, 2024, from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm at the Stratford Evangelical Lutheran Church. Foster Funeral and Cremation Center is caring for Marilyn and her family.
Marilyn is survived by her husband of over 44 years, Leland Carlson of Stratford, her children, daughter Marie Carlson of Ames and son Lee (Tara) Carlson of Stratford; grandchildren: grandson, Knox Carlson of Stratford, granddaughters, Aspen Carlson and Lakelyn Carlson of Stratford; brothers, Norman Olson of Bode and Thomas (Julie) Olson of Bode; sister-in-Law, Lornelle “Lori” (Ted) Riley of Emmetsburg; uncles, Eldon Monson of Livermore, Calvin Dorenkamp of Mason City; aunts, June Olson of Humboldt, Nancy Riggan of Orange City, Arda Oppedahl of Humboldt, Carolyn Oppedahl of Dubuque, along with many cousins, a niece, nephews and their families. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Orville & Marguerite Olson; uncles, Grant Olson, Rev. Andrew Oppedahl, Sumner Oppedahl, aunts, Eileen Larson, Norma Dorenkamp, Eleanore Grefstad, Anna Jane Johnson, and Averill Monson.
Marilyn Ann Olson was born on August 16th, 1953, at Trinity Regional Hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Orville & Marguerite (Oppedahl) Olson. She graduated in 1971 from Twin Rivers High School in Bode, IA. She went on to study home economics and family living at Iowa State University from which she was a proud alumnus of the class of 1975.
After graduation, she taught Home Economics for the Dayton Community High School for 10 years until the school district was consolidated. During her time in Dayton, she met Leland Carlson of Stratford, IA in 1977. They were united in marriage on August 4th,1979 at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode, IA and raised their family in Stratford, IA.
Marilyn was a patriot and was proud to have retired from the federal government in 2018 after 32 years with the United States Department of Agriculture at the Hamilton County Farm Service Agency as a program technician.
Marilyn was very proud of her community as well as her church family. She held several positions at the Stratford Lutheran Church from Sunday school teacher, Bible School teacher, Luther League Chaperone, Church board member to Church Board President for numerous years. Marilyn was proud to work alongside Pastor Joe & Gracie Lambert in their ministerial positions and helped guide the church through several projects. She was proud to serve her last years on the Church Council with her daughter Marie. Marilyn was specifically proud of her church family’s commitment to several projects over the years that include installing an elevator lift, adding on the church fellowship hall and remodeling the church parsonage. Marilyn was also director of the Stratford Congregate Meals along with Carol Larson which was sponsored by the Stratford Lutheran Church to provide meals for the elderly in town. She also was a Stratford Library Board member as well as a Board Member for the Stratford Retirement apartments for several years. Marilyn was a proud member of the Stratford American Legion Auxiliary, after her father Orville was a POW in World War II.
Marilyn loved agriculture and loved seeing her husband, son and daughter farm together enjoying constant updates from the field. She also kept in close contact with brothers Norman & Tom Olson in their farming operations where she grew up on the Olson Family farm in Bode, IA. She loved coming out to the field with meals and seeing her grandchildren ride along in the tractor & combine. Marilyn kept a close eye on Marie’s work travels and was excited to hear updates about what town or state she had recently been in. Leland, Marie, Lee and Kathleen Johnson were all instrumental in caring for Marilyn at home as long as was physically possible. Marilyn’s grandchildren Knox, Aspen, Lakelyn and grand dog, Miss Maddie Mae were the apple of her eye and even though her health in the end was challenging she tried her best to keep up with their activities and events at school. Marilyn touched the lives of many through her smile, kind loving personality, teaching, working at the farm service agency and her community service and will be greatly missed. We know that heaven gained a pretty awesome angel to watch over us all.
Marilyn’s goal was to have the Stratford Lutheran Church steeple lit. To accomplish this goal Memorials can be made in Marilyn’s honor to the church. Questions regarding donations to the church can be directed to Pastor Alex Zenk at alexzenk86@gmail.com Stratford Evangelical Lutheran Church, PO Box 79, Stratford, IA 50249
Marilyn is survived by her husband of over 44 years, Leland Carlson of Stratford, her children, daughter Marie Carlson of Ames and son Lee (Tara) Carlson of Stratford; grandchildren: grandson, Knox Carlson of Stratford, granddaughters, Aspen Carlson and Lakelyn Carlson of Stratford; brothers, Norman Olson of Bode and Thomas (Julie) Olson of Bode; sister-in-Law, Lornelle “Lori” (Ted) Riley of Emmetsburg; uncles, Eldon Monson of Livermore, Calvin Dorenkamp of Mason City; aunts, June Olson of Humboldt, Nancy Riggan of Orange City, Arda Oppedahl of Humboldt, Carolyn Oppedahl of Dubuque, along with many cousins, a niece, nephews and their families. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Orville & Marguerite Olson; uncles, Grant Olson, Rev. Andrew Oppedahl, Sumner Oppedahl, aunts, Eileen Larson, Norma Dorenkamp, Eleanore Grefstad, Anna Jane Johnson, and Averill Monson.
Marilyn Ann Olson was born on August 16th, 1953, at Trinity Regional Hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Orville & Marguerite (Oppedahl) Olson. She graduated in 1971 from Twin Rivers High School in Bode, IA. She went on to study home economics and family living at Iowa State University from which she was a proud alumnus of the class of 1975.
After graduation, she taught Home Economics for the Dayton Community High School for 10 years until the school district was consolidated. During her time in Dayton, she met Leland Carlson of Stratford, IA in 1977. They were united in marriage on August 4th,1979 at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode, IA and raised their family in Stratford, IA.
Marilyn was a patriot and was proud to have retired from the federal government in 2018 after 32 years with the United States Department of Agriculture at the Hamilton County Farm Service Agency as a program technician.
Marilyn was very proud of her community as well as her church family. She held several positions at the Stratford Lutheran Church from Sunday school teacher, Bible School teacher, Luther League Chaperone, Church board member to Church Board President for numerous years. Marilyn was proud to work alongside Pastor Joe & Gracie Lambert in their ministerial positions and helped guide the church through several projects. She was proud to serve her last years on the Church Council with her daughter Marie. Marilyn was specifically proud of her church family’s commitment to several projects over the years that include installing an elevator lift, adding on the church fellowship hall and remodeling the church parsonage. Marilyn was also director of the Stratford Congregate Meals along with Carol Larson which was sponsored by the Stratford Lutheran Church to provide meals for the elderly in town. She also was a Stratford Library Board member as well as a Board Member for the Stratford Retirement apartments for several years. Marilyn was a proud member of the Stratford American Legion Auxiliary, after her father Orville was a POW in World War II.
Marilyn loved agriculture and loved seeing her husband, son and daughter farm together enjoying constant updates from the field. She also kept in close contact with brothers Norman & Tom Olson in their farming operations where she grew up on the Olson Family farm in Bode, IA. She loved coming out to the field with meals and seeing her grandchildren ride along in the tractor & combine. Marilyn kept a close eye on Marie’s work travels and was excited to hear updates about what town or state she had recently been in. Leland, Marie, Lee and Kathleen Johnson were all instrumental in caring for Marilyn at home as long as was physically possible. Marilyn’s grandchildren Knox, Aspen, Lakelyn and grand dog, Miss Maddie Mae were the apple of her eye and even though her health in the end was challenging she tried her best to keep up with their activities and events at school. Marilyn touched the lives of many through her smile, kind loving personality, teaching, working at the farm service agency and her community service and will be greatly missed. We know that heaven gained a pretty awesome angel to watch over us all.
Marilyn’s goal was to have the Stratford Lutheran Church steeple lit. To accomplish this goal Memorials can be made in Marilyn’s honor to the church. Questions regarding donations to the church can be directed to Pastor Alex Zenk at alexzenk86@gmail.com Stratford Evangelical Lutheran Church, PO Box 79, Stratford, IA 50249
To send flowers to the family in memory of Marilyn Carlson, please visit our flower store.