Dorothy Carlson

Dorothy Carlson

Our mom, grandmother, great-grandma, great-great grandma, sister and friend Dorothy Carlson of Havre, 92, passed away July 27, 2011, of natural causes at April's Care & Comfort Home.

Her funeral service will be 2 p. m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, at the Messiah Lutheran Church. A memorial service and burial will be held in Garrison, N.D., at 2 p. m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home and Thompson Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements.

Dorothy Ida Mitchell was born Sept. 7, 1918, to Arthur and Blanche (Rogers) Mitchell at Eddyside P. O., Saskatchewan, Canada. Because there was not a high school nearby, she took some high school by correspondence. Due to the circumstances of hard times, she earned her own money by "working out" at the Neighbors until she married. Dorothy married Harlen Anderson on Oct. 1, 1939, and they had two children, June and Wayne. Because of hard times and no school in the area, the family moved from Canada to Scobey, Mont., in the summer of 1948. Harlen was killed in a car accident in December 1950.

Dorothy married Elmer Carlson, a truck driver for Sweetheart Bakery, on June 9, 1953. The family moved to Wolf Point, where Dorothy worked as a clerk at Penny's for a time then for Buttrey's until they moved to Havre in 1973. In 1977, Elmer retired from Eddy's Bakery and they moved to Garrison. Elmer died April 11, 1995.

Over the years, Dorothy was very involved in church activities, quilting and sewing. She made for her family quilts and beautifully framed counted cross stitch. She also loved to read and work on cross word puzzles. Dorothy moved to Havre in 2005 to be close to family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Harlen, and second husband, Elmer; two brothers, one sister; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Dorothy is survived by her two children: June (Gerald) Grabofsky of Havre, Mont., and Wayne (Meredith) Anderson of King City, Calif. ; five grandchildren; one stepgrandchild; 11 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Ruth Forsythe of Kamaloops, B.C., Canada; and numerous nieces and nephews whom she kept in contact with.

As a family, we feel blessed that Dorothy was residing at the Care & Comfort Home where she received wonderful care. She called it "home, " and all of the caring staff were her "guardian angels. "

The family suggests memorials in Dorothy's honor may be made to the Care & Comfort Home, 1204 Cleveland Ave., Havre, MT 59501, or a charity of one's choice.