Ronald F. Carlson

Ronald F. Carlson, age 79 of Grafton, ND passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at his home in Grafton under Hospice care. Ronald F. Carlson was born March 7, 1934 in Mekinock, ND the son of the late Tollef and Ruby (Hensrud) Carlson. The family moved to Badger, MN and in 1942 they moved to Grand Forks. In 1947 the family moved to Forest River and Ron graduated from Forest River High School in 1952 as the class Valedictorian. He was also a member of the high school basketball team. After his education he worked for Ray Collins Construction in St. Thomas, ND. He enlisted in the United States Army on Nov. 15, 1956. He served as a missile instructor at Fort Sill, OK until his discharge on Nov. 14, 1958. While in Oklahoma he met and married Mary Brown on March 25, 1959 at Lawton, OK. The couple made their home in Grafton. He worked for a time for Ray Collins again and later for Marvin Lykken. In 1973 he started his own construction company and worked until his death. Ron was a member of the Grafton Assembly of God Church and served on the church board. He did missionary work with the MAPS organization through the Assembly of God Church, working in Coolidge, AZ and later helped build the Assembly of God church in Walhalla. He was a life member of the Walsh County Gun Club, the N.R.A., and the American Trap Shooting Association. He enjoyed hunting, camping and trap shooting. Ron is survived by his wife Mary of Grafton, ND; children: Shirley (Ken) Swenson, St. Cloud, MN; Virginia (Greg) Palm, Hopkins, MN; Rex Carlson, Grand Forks, ND and Steve (Nikke) Carlson, Fargo, ND; 14 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and brothers: Roger (Phyllis) Carlson, Arkansas, Richard Carlson, Grand Forks, ND; and Terry (Darlene) Carlson, Rochester, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandson Dalton. Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 2:00 PM at the Grafton Assembly of God Church. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5-7 with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may also call at the church on Wednesday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Ness Lutheran Cemetery, Mekinock, ND. Military rites will be provided by the Grafton American Legion Post #41 and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard.