Harold “Bud” Carlson, 87, of International Falls, Minn., died at his Shorewood Drive home Wednesday, May 23, 2012.
Bud was born in Evansville, Minn., on Oct. 12, 1924, to Aldrich and Agnes (Nelson) Carlson.
He spent his youth helping on the family farm. After graduating from Evansville High School in 1942, Bud joined the United States Navy Seabees.
Following his discharge from the Navy, he returned to Evansville and started Carlson Construction Company. His brother Sherwin joined the company after returning from the Korean War and at the same time, his father Aldrich quit farming and joined the company.
Bud’s venture into business was very successful and he was proud of the many schools, churches, hotels, and nursing homes throughout the Midwest that were constructed under his supervision. He later entered into a partnership owning several Holiday Inns in northern Minnesota and retired in the late 1980s.
In April 1977, Bud married Patricia (Balderson) Lyman and began the greatest adventure of his life. They lived in California a short time before making International Falls their home. Together, they built the “Casa Loma” on Rainy Lake, wintered in Mazatlan, Mexico, and Bullhead City, Ariz., and spent every possible moment together. Bud’s greatest heartache was when Pat passed away in 2005.
Bud was an accomplished entrepreneur and pilot but most importantly, a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and sibling. His optimism, wise counsel, and unconditional love will be greatly missed.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia; parents, Aldrich and Agnes Carlson; twin sister, Harriet Johnson and sisters, Shirley Rossum and Mavis Winans.
Bud is survived by sons, Monty (Julie) Carlson of Evansville, Minn., and Jim (Lori) Lyman of International Falls; daughters, Holli Carlson of Eagle River, Alaska, Terri Renollet and Deana (Van) Pavleck of International Falls; grandchildren, Jaime (Matt) Drewis, Jessie (Casey) Port, Jerad (Ashley) Kostiuk, Lisa (Clayton) Bahr, Ryan Bloom, Jason (Molly) Pavleck, Josh (Christine) Pavleck, and Ashley (Jared) Baldwin; great-grandchildren, Jayden and Carter Drewis, Ashton Port, AnDrew Scholler, Shelby Wolden, Rylie Bloom, Aubrey and Elise Pavleck, Evi Pavleck, and Brodie Baldwin; brother, Sherwin Carlson of North Dakota; and sisters, June Rossum of Evansville and Sylvia Goin of Phoenix, Ariz.
Memorial services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 26, at Zion Lutheran Church.
Memorials in memory of Bud may be sent to North Star Hospice or Zion Lutheran Church.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com.
Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls, is in charge of arrangements.
