Obituary of Edwin Carlson

EDWIN LAWRENCE CARLSON, age 87, passed away at his home in House 6, The Meadows Care Facility in Swift Current SK, on Monday, February 12, 2018. His ashes were interred Friday, February 16th, in Mount Pleasant Burial Park, followed by a memorial service at 2 pm, at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, with Pastor Brad Julien officiating. Ed was born on the Carlson homestead south of Ponteix SK, to Ernest and Hilma (Ericksson) Carlson on January 21, 1931, in the middle of the pack of four sisters and three brothers. As a young boy, he walked or rode horse a couple of miles to a one-room schoolhouse, Westerleigh School, and later attended high school in Ponteix. Ed, like many good Vikings, was not afraid to venture out and try a variety of jobs. His sense of adventure took him across the country to Ontario where he worked with a road construction crew, then back west to work in Alberta’s gas fields during the early time of industry development. Eventually he found his way back to Saskatchewan, and got a job at Dual Plumbing in Swift Current. During this time, he also farmed near Ponteix with the help of his brother Eric. Like many others who grew up on the farm in that era, he learned the values of hard work and being thrifty. Maybe that’s why he loved fixing things, and didn’t throw much away. Any spare pieces of metal were collected and saved in case they could be used for another project. Ed married Charlotte Bow of the White Bear area, in 1969, at Medicine Hat AB. In 1971 his father Ernest died, followed by the death of his mother Hilma in 1973. Soon after Ed and Charlotte moved to the Carlson family homestead, where they built a new house and enjoyed life together. Ed continued to build his plumbing business in the area, and volunteered as a member of the local Sask Wheat Pool Board. When they could get away to their cabin at Lac Pelletier, Ed and Charlotte enjoyed fishing, boating, having a drink and a few good laughs around the bonfire with friends and family. Their motor home took them further from home, to Alberta, the west coast, north to Alaska, and all the way south to Tennessee. A collection of owls were displayed in their home, alongside some amusing trolls. In 1995, they sold the farm to nephews, and moved to Swift Current. Ed continued his plumbing business for many years, and in the late 1990’s, was the head plumber for the expansion project of the Swift Current Day’s Inn. He was a good mentor to teach plumbing skills: always neat, always tidy, while doing the job right. In the community, Ed was a long-time member of the Eagles and the Elks, and enjoyed helping out with various fundraising events. He even acquired a safe food handling certificate so he could help in the kitchen with the meal preparations. In 2002, Charlotte’s health declined, and Ed was her devoted caregiver until her passing in 2004. As his needs in life changed, he sold the house on Whyte Place, then moved to Prairie Pioneer Housing, the Bentley, Cypress House, and finally, in 2016, to the newly opened Meadows Care Home. He was one of the first to call House 6 his home, where this past January he happily celebrated his 87th birthday, surrounded by his family. He had always loved getting everyone together, listening to stories, and eating his favourite celebration meal: Chinese food and chocolate cake for dessert. One of the things he missed most while in care, was having a project to do some fixing, even to the end. Ed was predeceased by his parents, Ernest & Hilma Carlson, two siblings in infancy, his sisters Ruth King, Vera Sekieta, Doris Wright, his brothers Eric, Art, and Bert. He is survived by his sister Hilma Carlson, sister-in-law Marie Carlson, brother-in-law George Carnrike and wife Winnie, step-grandchildren Brandon Bow, Candice Baxter and Ryan Baxter, and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be remembered for his keen sense of humour and love of family. Rest in peace “Chief”! Parkside Funeral Home was in care of arrangements. Those wishing to make a donation in Ed’s memory may do so by contributing to the Dr. Noble Irwin Foundation, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.