Elsie Carlson

Elsie M. Carlson, 74, of rural Overton died Friday,

July 3, 2009, at the Bertrand Nursing Home in Bertrand.

Elsie Marie Sienknecht was born Sept. 10, 1934, in Lincoln, the youngest of five children of Ferdinand and Dora (Callsen) Sienknecht. Elsie was baptized and confirmed in Lincoln at St. Paul’s Evangelical and Reformed Church. She received her education at Lincoln, graduating from Lincoln Central High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. She then pursued higher education on a full scholarship at the Lincoln General Hospital School of Nursing, where she received her RN degree in August of 1955. Following her education, Elsie began her nursing career at the Brewster Medical Clinic in Holdrege. She then began employment at the Kearney Clinic in Kearney and later her caring ways excelled as the School Nurse for the Kearney Public School System. On June 14, 1966, Elsie was united in marriage to Marvin W. Carlson and the couple were blessed with four children: Kirk, Kathy, Peg and Jeff. The couple engaged in the family farming operation and fed cattle with Marvin’s brothers, Alton and Doyle. Marvin and Elsie loved to spend time together dancing, traveling and simply the time together on their every Saturday night, "date night" throughout their married life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin on May 9, 2008.

A big part of Elsie’s life was her love for music. In the early 1990s she became a member of the Sweet Adelines. Many friendship bonds were formed through the years performing for many special occasions with this group. Elsie was an active member of the Adullam Lutheran Church, where she played organ for over forty years for Sunday services, and many weddings and funerals. She also served the church as a past Sunday School Superintendent, taught Sunday school and served on the Church Council. She enjoyed tending to her flowers and garden. Elsie volunteered on the Election Board, was active with blood drives through the Red Cross, and volunteered on a weekly basis at the Bertrand Nursing Home.

Elsie leaves to mourn her passing: four children: Kirk (and wife, Kim) Carlson Ralston, Kathy (Mrs. Jim) Griess of Fremont, Peg (Mrs. Sid) Moeller of Hooper and Jeff (and wife, Bertina) Carlson of Overton; nine grandchildren, Michael, Brian, Shawn and Joseph Carlson, Robb and Brett Moeller and Alexandra, Ashley and Dalton Carlson; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Kurt Sienknecht of Colburt, Okla. and Paul (and wife, Henny) Sienknecht of Midland, Mich.; a sister-in-law, Alice Sienknecht of Littleton, Colo.; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by: her parents; two brothers, Fritz Sienknecht and Helmut Sienknecht and his wife, Merle; and two brothers-in-law, Alton Carlson and his wife, Florence and Doyle Carlson.

The funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Adullam Lutheran Church, north of Bertrand, with the Rev. Gary Panko officiating. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, with family receiving friends 6-7:30 p.m., at the Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand. Burial will be in the Adullam Cemetery in Phelps County.

A memorial has been established in her memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the www.nelsonbauerfh.com.