It was a muddy spring in 1936 when Dr. Diamond and his helpers traveled the distance from Frederic to rural Clam Falls with a man laying across the fender of the car holding a lantern to guide the way. After getting stuck and being pushed and pulled out of mud holes, they finally arrived at the Russell (Ding) and Virginia Nelson home in the early morning of April 26. As it was not yet time for the child to be born, Dr. Diamond lay down beside Virginia and took a nap. At the right time, a girl child was born and named Mary Annette. All was so quiet that Virginia asked if Mary was still alive. She was told, “Yes. She’s sucking her thumb.” So began the life of Mary Annette Nelson.
Mary began first grade in Stillwater, Minnesota; second grade in Minneapolis, Minnesota, completing that year at Shady Mound School. She continued her elementary schooling at Shady Mound and attended high school in Frederic, Wisconsin, graduating in 1955.
Mary met Leo Carlson in church choir where he stood behind her and pulled her ponytail. They were married Oct. 22, 1955 at Clam Falls Lutheran Church. They were blessed with five children, 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Mary always felt close to God and made a commitment to Jesus as Savior and Lord in 1963. She was baptized as a young girl by a Methodist minister and later confirmed at the Clam Falls Lutheran Church. As adults she and Leo were baptized together in the Tilton River in Washington state.
Mary passed away Jan. 21, 2025 in Frederic, Wisconsin. She was 88 years old.
As the children were growing up, Mary was a stay-at-home mom, loving her position as homemaker. She loved to bake, cook and sew clothes for her children and herself. She was a 4-H leader and worked with the church youth group. Mary taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years. She taught ladies and couples Bible studies. She always said that she learned more by teaching than she did being the student. Mary was one of the founders of the local Women’s Aglow Fellowship group. She taught grades one, two and three in Christian schools and tutored several home-schooled children.
Throughout her life family has been her greatest joy. She is survived by her children, Konnie (William) Didlo, John (Linda) Carlson, Suzanne (Milton) Johnson, Robert Carlson and Mary Beth (Mark) Hansen; grandchildren, Andrea (Joshua) Felmer and Emily (Chris) Lee, Jessica Carlson and Anna (Alex) Becker, Matthew (Regina) King and Amanda (Carl) McGrane, Randy (Amanda) Carlson and Tanesha Carlson, Hannah (Joe) Briggs, Holly Hildebrandt and Hunter (Brittany) Hildebrandt; great-grandchildren, Sabrina and Summer Felmer, Dean Becker, Leo King, Adalyn, Cole and Charlotte McGrane, Lewis and Linden Carlson and Sullivan Gardner, Clove and Vernon Briggs and Graham Hildebrandt; sisters-in-law, Janice Nelson and Delores (Art) Bishop; and brother-in-law, Lowell (Carol) Carlson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Carlson, on Aug. 7, 2017; her parents Russell and Virginia Nelson; sister, Patricia Casey; brother, James Nelson; parents-in-law, Lewis and Margaret Carlson; and grandson, Dustin Carlson.
Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 27, at 11 a.m., at Clam Falls Lutheran Church. Interment was at the Clam Falls Lutheran Church Cemetery following the service.
Pallbearers were Matthew King, Randy Carlson, Hunter Hildebrandt, Carl McGrane, Joshua Felmer, Alex Becker and Chris Lee.
Arrangements were entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic, Wisconsin.
