Martha Carlson
Oct. 5, 1950-March 12, 2020
Martha Carlson, 69,
Minot, died Thursday,
March 12, 2020 at the
Garrison Hospital.
Martha Faith Hansen’s
first home was a humble
farm in Carpio, ND. She
was born on October 5,
1950, the daughter of
Fredrick and Myrtle
(Peterson) Hansen in
Minot. She learned hard
work on the farm, and
graduated from Carpio
High School in 1968.
On May 28, 1971, Mar-
tha enlisted into the Unit-
ed States Navy, since
“they had the prettiest
uniforms.” She proudly
served her country within
the nursing corps, until
her honorable discharge
on February 3, 1972.
Minot was home for
most of Martha’s years.
She was united in mar-
riage to Westlie Carlson
on April 23, 1971. Martha
worked as a Registered
Nurse for Trinity and
Souris Valley Care Center
in Velva. She retired in
2013. Martha loved caring
for her patients and
would get “feisty” to en-
sure they received quality
care. Wes and Martha
raised three children, and
Martha would always say
“you better not mess with
my kids or my old
people!”
She enjoyed “digging in
the dirt,” also known as
working in her perennial
flowers. Martha was well
known for her yearly
Christmas stories, which
frequently featured har-
rowing experiences from
her childhood on the
farm. She similarly loved
to read books to her own
children, and eventually
to her grandchildren. She
made fleece blankets by
the dozen to give to those
important to her. She was
a generous person who
was always trying to give
things away.
Martha had a personal
walk with our Savior. She
would have talks with
Him to let Him know
what she thought, and
was comforted with
peaceful assurance. Her
Christmas stories always
pointed to Jesus. Martha
did not attain fame or
riches in this life. Instead
she enriched the lives of
those around her. She
knew rewards were yet to
come, as one of her
Christmas stories assures,
“Child, my precious child;
I love you very much. I
know what you’ve done.
You’re just not home yet.”
Martha, rest in peace in
your final heavenly home.
Martha is survived by:
husband of 49 years,
Westlie, Garrison; chil-
dren: Paul (Maria) Carl-
son, Phoenix, AZ, Mary
(John) Lemke, Houston,
MN, and Michael
(Samara) Carlson,
Bismarck, ND; eleven
grandchildren: Jared,
Anna, Bethany, Brielle,
and Suzan Carlson,
Phoenix, AZ; Kezia,
Evelyn, and Joseph
Lemke, Houston, MN; Ga-
brielle, Emily, and Aubrey
Carlson, Bismarck, ND; si-
blings: Christine (Darrell)
Stambaugh, Glenburn,
ND, Sharon Hansen,
Strasburg, CO, Larry
(Mary) Hansen, Carpio,
ND, Laurie Lepel, Rapid
City, SD, Bill (Pam) Han-
sen, Cumberland, WI; and
several nieces, nephews
and cousins.
Martha was preceded
in death by: her parents,
brother Fred Jr.,
sister-in-law Ginger, and
infant niece Nicole.
Visitation: Wednesday,
March 18, 2020 from 4
until 6 pm at
Thompson-Larson Fun-
eral Home, Minot, ND
Funeral Service: Thurs-
day, March 19, 2020 at 11
am at Our Redeemer’s
Lutheran Brethren
Church, Minot
Graveside Service: Fri-
day, March 20, 2020 at 11
am at North Dakota
Veterans Cemetery, Man-
dan, ND
Those wishing to sign
the online register and
share memories may ac-
cess the online obituaries
section at www.thompson
larson.com.