Lois Carlson

Lois Joan Keacher Carlson died December 5, 2015 in White Bear Lake. Lois was born June 5, 1930 in Minneapolis and spent her childhood growing up in the Stacey/Rush City area. She was the oldest child of David and Florence Keacher and a sister to twin brothers Bob and Bill Keacher all of whom have preceded her in death. Lois was a 1948 graduate of Rush City High School. On August 16, 1952 she married Ralph W. Carlson and they moved to Duluth and lived there 39 years while raising their family. During her years in Duluth Lois enjoyed her role as a homemaker. She was a long time member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where she maintained an active role in the choir, Sunday School and the Women's Association. She faithfully produced the weekly church bulletin for many years. In later years she was also a member of the Mt. of Olive Baptist Church.
In 1967 she began working for the Duluth Board of Education as a school secretary and served in that position at several Duluth elementary schools until her retirement in 1987. She was a member of the Minn-Arrow Chapter of the National Secretaries Association and the Duluth Needle-Arts Guild.
She and Ralph moved back to the Twin Cities in 1991 and were members of North Haven Baptist Church in North St. Paul. Lois had a great love of poetry and music and enjoyed playing the piano and organ. She was an accomplished seamstress and needle worker and loved creating things for her family who were her greatest joy.
Lois is survived by Ralph, her loving husband of 63 years, her daughter Sandra (Craig) Stepan, sons Peter Carlson and Dan (Judy) Carlson and five grandchildren Nathan Stepan, Mark Stepan and Tom (Beth) Stepan and Joe Carlson and Laurel Carlson.
A memorial service to celebrate Lois's life will be held on Saturday, March 19 at Bradshaw Funeral Home, Greenhaven Drive, White Bear Lake. The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until the service at 11:00 am. A luncheon will follow. There will be a private family graveside service and interment.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the grand piano fund for the new chapel at Cerenity Senior Care in White Bear Lake. The family wishes to thank the nursing staff and employees of Cerenity for the loving care they have given to our wife and mother.