Darwin D. Carlson

After a year-long struggle with lung disease, Darwin Douglas Carlson, age 86, of Pine City, died peacefully at home on the afternoon of Jan. 31, 2003.
Funeral service was at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 3, 2003 at the First Presbyterian Church in Pine City with the Rev. James Ellison officiating. Jennifer Krinke and Carol Nyhrinen provided music. Casket bearers were Gary Swanson, Dennis Swanson, Carl Anderson, Warren Mattson, Dan Carlson, and Keith Carlson. Honorary casket bearers were the Heath-Perkins American Legion Post #51 and the Novak-Milliren VFW Post #4258. Military rites were by the Minnesota National Guard, Company B, 194th Armored Division of Pine City. Interment was at the Birchwood Cemetery in Pine City. Arrangements were by the Swanson Chapel, Funeral & Cremation Service, Pine City, Minn.
Darwin was born on Jan. 11, 1917 to Carl Erick and Anna (Olson) Carlson in West Rock, Minn. He was the fifth of their nine children.
He attended the West Rock School through eighth grade and worked on the neighborsí farms as a youth.
He served in the Army during WWII in Alaska and when discharged, worked for the Rural Electric Association in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. He was an active member of both the V.F.W. and the American Legion.
On May 25, 1948, he married Flora Higgins of Cooperstown, North Dakota. They were living in Nebraska when Cheryl was born and returned to Minnesota in 1950 where Gloria, Butch, and Myron were born. Darwin worked as a truck driver for Nelsonís Coca-Cola bottling and later, for Braham Ready-mix until he retired in 1979.
In his younger years, Darwin liked to fish, play ball, and perform in musical groups. He played accordion and piano by ear. Family reunions usually meant music of some kind with his brother, Waldo.
He was an avid sports fan and especially loved watching baseball, whether it was his sons, the Minn. Twins or, since cable TV, the Chicago Cubs. He was excellent at solving crossword puzzles, playing cards, and beating TV game show contestants to the correct answer.
Darwin took pride in his large, thriving garden and helped to can hundreds of quarts of tomatoes, beans and pickles.
He was first and foremost a family man, spending his time involved in the lives of his children and was especially excited to have two grandchildren to make him feel like a kid again.
Survivors are: his wife, Flora Carlson of Pine City, his daughter, Cheryl Carlson of Circle Pines, daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and Jeffrey Hoffman of Pine City, sons, Butch Carlson of Pine City and Myron Carlson of Eagan; grandchildren are Tessa Hoffman and J. Boone Hoffman, both of Woodbury. Sister, Viola Mattson of Rush City, sisters-in-law, Ann Carlson of Isle, Maggie Carlson of Rush City and Verna Carlson of Pine City; many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by parents, C. Erick and Anna (Olson) Carlson, brothers, Reuben, Kenneth, Waldo, Harvey and Mylo Carlson; sisters, Norma Swanson and Leona Carlson; sisters-in-law: Blanche, Babe, Delores, and Gladys Carlson and brothers-in-law, John Swanson and Vernon Mattson.

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