William Carlson

William Albin Carlson (Bill), 83 of Eaton, Colorado entered his eternal home to be with his Lord and Savior Tuesday, May 18, 2010. He was born October 18, 1926 in Eaton, CO to Albin B. Carlson and Esther M. (Anderson) Carlson of rural Eaton. Bill grew up on the family farm southwest of Eaton. He graduated from Eaton High School where he was active in FFA and football. He was drafted into the Army and served in North Africa and Persia during the occupation. After an honorable discharge, Bill went to college at Colorado State University receiving a degree in Agriculture, and later the University of Northern Colorado earning his masters in School Administration. Feeling a call to missions work in the Belgian Congo, he received further training at Trinity College in Chicago, IL and Brussels, Belgium. While in Chicago he met Helen Nelson of Bertrand, NE who joined him in Congo, and they married October 14, 1955 at the Tandala Mission Church. Bill and Helen served for 20 years in the Congo working with theological and agricultural education. Returning to the United States in 1974, Bill and his family settled in Eaton, CO where he worked as a loan officer at the Eaton Bank until retiring in 1994. While at CSU, Bill was active in student government, was a member of the Alpha Zeta Ag fraternity and was a member of the Lancers, an honorary group of outstanding students. He was on the planning committee of getting the Eaton High School Golden Association organized. He was a member of the Eaton Pioneer Society and attended the Swedish Heritage Society of Northern Colorado. Bill was a third generation member of the Evangelical Free Church of Eaton, succeeding members of the church. He served in various capacities in the church and was honored as an Elder Emeritus. His paternal grandparents, Charles and Alida Carlson were early pioneers in the Prospect Valley, Greeley and Eaton farming areas. Bill is survived by his wife of 54 years, Helen (Nelson); sons Daniel (Karen) of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, James (Kathleen) of Lyon, France; daughters Virginia (John) Aiken of Colorado Springs, CO, Karen (Thomas) Barnes of Minden, NE; 18 grandchildren; one brother Leland (Betty) and one sister Marilyn Shouse, both of Eaton; many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Charles Wendell and James Wallace(Jimmie), one sister Alberta Marie, and one granddaughter Elizabeth Hope Carlson. Viewing will be held Thursday, May 27, at the Evangelical Free Church, 1325 3rd Street in Eaton from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Graveside services will be Friday, May 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the Eaton Cemetery with the memorial service to follow at 11:00 AM at the Evangelical Free Church of Eaton. Memorial gifts may be made to the William Carlson Memorial Fund in care of the Eaton Evangelical Free Church, 1325 3rd Street, Eaton, Colorado 80615.

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William Carlson

October 18, 1926 - May 18, 2010