Thief River Falls – Faye Carlson, 83 of Thief River Falls, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 27, 2022 at North Star Manor in Warren with her loving family by her side.
The service to celebrate Faye’s life was held on Monday, March 7, 2022 at Faith Lutheran Brethren Church with Pastor George Davis officiating. Burial will follow at Community Cemetery in St. Hilaire.
Faye (Wilma) Hollon was born June 20, 1938 in rural Wolfe County, KY to Ned and Rosealine (Elkins) Hollon. Here she spent the early years of her life with her family enjoying the deep hills in the heart of coal country Kentucky. At the age of 8 years old, due to difficult circumstances of the time, Faye and her sister Loretta were sent to live at Bethany Children’s Home in Bethany, KY. In 1950, due to the death of her mother, Faye’s brother, Timothy came to join them at Bethany Children’s Home. Since Faye was one of the older children at the home, she was tasked with taking care of her baby brother. Faye always reminisced that time spent at the children’s home was one of the best times of her life and loved to share those precious memories with her family and friends.
When Faye was 14, Edna Earl Messerschmidt came to Bethany Children’s Home to conduct vacation bible school for the children. While doing so, she fell in love with Faye and her brother, Timothy and felt led to bring them into her home and adopt them as her own children. Faye moved with her new family to Anderson, IN. Becoming the daughter of missionaries was a huge adjustment for Faye compared to the simple life she led in her home of eastern Kentucky. She adapted well and enjoyed the church fellowship growing even closer to the Lord.
Faye graduated valedictorian of her high school class at Great Commissions Schools in Anderson, IN and continued her education at Bethany Fellowship in Minneapolis. After graduating she felt called to return to the place that she felt most at home which is Bethany Children’s Home. There she began to live and work 24 hours a day as a caregiver for orphan girls often caring for up to 20 children at one time. She took great pride in raising each one of them as her own, dressing and curling their hair every day. Raising them with the same love she had received as a child. She went on to teach first grade in Greensboro, NC.
In 1964, in the town of Ft. Bragg, NC, Faye met the love of her life, Kenneth Carlson while riding on a Greyhound Bus. Their courtship consisted of two dates and lots of letters. They were united in marriage on July 9, 1966 at Winona Lake, IN and to this marriage three children were born, Kimberly, Timothy, and Kelsey. Faye adored her husband and would do anything for him, and was not truly happy unless Kenneth was by her side.
They made their home in Thief River Falls for a short time prior to settling on the Carlson Family Farm in Sanders Township, Pennington County, which was homesteaded by the Carlson Family in 1888. Once again, Faye gracefully transitioned into a new role as she became a farm wife. She loved learning how to make bread, Scandinavian dishes from her mother-in-law and caring for animals. Throughout her life, Faye spent her time on the farm caring for her children and many other neighborhood children. Her devotion to her children is a gift which will never be forgotten. A great joy of Faye’s was welcoming her six grandchildren to life on the farm where they spent many happy days. She continued to reside on the farm until time of her death.
She was a member of Faith Lutheran Brethren Church in Thief River Falls where she taught Sunday School and was active in Mission Friends. Faye’s life was dedicated to teaching children the love of Jesus. Faye is a testament to how an orphan girl with very little family can go from coming into this world with nothing to leaving this world surrounded by the unconditional love of a large family. Her legacy will live on in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Left to mourn her passing are her children, Kimberly (Rick) Bolinske of Clitherall, Timothy (Michelle) Carlson of Thief River Falls and Kelsey (Erik) Jensen of Goodridge; grandchildren, Kayla (Jason) Vedder, Sindon (Irina) Christenson, Spencer (Madison) Christenson, Christian Carlson, Kendra Jensen, Kansas Jensen, Rachel Fleming, Tiffany (fiancé Kyle Bell) Noreikis, Lindsay (Nate) Miley, Kyle Fiebiger; great-grandchildren, Tatum, Tenley, Everly, Mila, Rhett, Kate, Danielle, Kimberly, Ariana, Hannah, Connor, Arianna and Addison, Leo, and Kade; sister-in-law, Ivadel Carlson; and many other relatives.
We rejoice in the heavenly reunion of Kenny and Faye. Also preceding her in death are her parents, Ned, Rosaline, Edna Earl, Edwin and Ruth; siblings, Loretta, Timothy and others as adolescents; her father and mother-in-law, Walford and Verna Carlson; brother-in-law, Leonard Carlson; brother and sister-in-law, Harvey and Delores Johnson.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com
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