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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.