Mary Matilda (Neilson) Carlson

CARLSON, Mary

Mary Matilada Carlson (nee: Neilson), beloved wife of the late Jim Carlson, passed away at St. Therese Villas in Lethbridge, on Friday, February 18th, 2022 at the age of 93.

Mary was born in Taylorville, Alberta, October 13, 1928. She was the youngest of 5 children born to Julius and Olga Neilson. She loved Taylorville and all of the friends and neighbors who remained very special to her all of her life. She attended school in Taylorville, Jefferson, Champion and graduated from Grade 12 in Cardston. She then went on to Normal School in Calgary and earned her teaching certificate. She taught school in Champion for a time and then married Jim Carlson in July of 1949. They began farming in the Alston community west of Champion. Their family soon grew to include 7 busy children. The family moved to Calgary in 1968. Mary began teaching kindergarten. In 1973 a move to Gimli, Manitoba began Mary’s involvement in Day Care operations. When the family returned to Calgary in 1978, Mary and Jim opened Carlson’s Childcare where hundreds of children and staff were influenced by her wise and caring manner. She continued the business until she was 76 years old, and retirement called.

Family was always very important to Mary. She never ceased loving and serving others, both inside and outside her family. Her favorite times were when the house was filled with visiting and laughter. Besides the family there always seemed to be at least one or two extras at the table. Everyone looked forward to her homemade buns fresh from the oven!

After Jim passed away in 2006, Mary continued to live in her home in Calgary until moving to Lethbridge in 2014. She spent the last three years of her life being lovingly cared for by the wonderful staff at St. Therese Villas in Lethbridge. The family is most grateful to them for their dedication and service to her and all the residents.

Mary is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren:

Edward & Laurel Carlson

Marjorie & Brent Hawthorn

Tom Hawthorn & Erin Beach

Charlie, Wesley

Carolyn Hawthorn & Sumaan Khan

Debbie & Gary Seebeck

Donny Seebeck

Melissa Seebeck

Margaret Crane

Geoff & Jody Crane

Colton, Hayden, Violet, Scarlett

Amanda Crane

Allan Crane

Christina Crane

Stephen & Ashley Crane

Ezra

Jim & Kelly Carlson

Delainie & Aaron White

Julian, Jonah

Morgan Stante

Bennett, Simone

Robyn James & Brian Head

Page, Zakk

Sean Carlson

Karen & Steve Rota

James Rota & Chloe Hamdon

She will also be missed by her sister-in-law, Nancy Carlson as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Jim Carlson; son, Don Carlson; and grandson, Edward Hawthorn; parents, Julius and Olga Neilson; brothers and sisters, Elva Smith, Ralph Neilson, Delbert Neilson, Verna Forsyth, and their spouses.

A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 26th, 2022 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Champion, Alberta. Friends may meet the family from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will be held in the Champion Cemetery.

For those who wish, Live Streaming will be available by scrolling to the bottom of this obituary and clicking on the live streaming link. The link will become active approximately ten minutes prior to service time.