Ronald Douglas (“Keanie”) Carlson, passed away peacefully on February 27, 2025. He was born on the family farm, in rural Money Creek, on August 14, 1933, to Alfred and Beulah Carlson (Bradt).
Ron attended the Money Creek country school, and Houston High School. On May 14,1954, he married Margaret Knutson, at the Money Creek United Methodist Church. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2024.
Ron and Margaret had five children: Scott (Kathy Miller), Steven (Shelly Galloway), Jenelle (Paul Jacobsen), James (Ann Carlson), and Audra (Tony Compton).
Ron enjoyed riding a motorcycle, and he and Margaret made cycle trips out West. He also enjoyed snowmobiling and camping with his family and a group of close friends. He was an expert nicknamer of people, and liked a good joke. Over the years his family collected and appreciated Ron’s amusing store of quips and sayings.
Ron worked a variety of jobs over the years, including his own business, Carlson Insulation. He most of all enjoyed his 16 years as custodial engineer and head maintenance person at Houston High School, where he worked until retirement.
Ron is survived by his wife of 70 years, Margaret; by his sons Scott, Steve and Jim; by his daughters Jenelle and Audra, by his eight grandchildren: Mitch, Tor, Lindsey, Taylor, Livia, Emily, Norah and Kaelyn; by three great-grandchildren: Miles, Sylvie and Ava; Ron is survived by his sister Blanche Smith; sisters-in-law Marilyn Jore, Janice Fitting, Lucille Young, Lorayne Vix, Judy Eddy, and Melanie Knutson; by brothers-in-law Bob Knutson and Gary Eddy; and by many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
On the Carlson side of the family, Ron is preceded in death by his parents Alfred and Beulah; by five of his sisters and their husbands: Barbara and Gordon Fossen, Lucille and Sam Miller, Esther and Jim Ford, Betty and Claire Peterson, Bonnie and Charles Johnson; by his three brothers and their wives: Lyle Carlson, Curtis and Joanne Carlson, John and Mary Carlson; by two brothers-in-law, Curtis Church and Howard Smith.
On the Knutson side of the family, Ron is preceded in death by his father- and mother-in-law Ted and Adele Knutson; by brothers-in-law Tom Knutson, Roger Jore, Allen Fitting, Richard Vix and Steve Young; and by sister-in-law Susan Knutson.
Ron’s family wish to greatly thank the staff at Valley View Healthcare in Houston for their wonderful, compassionate care, and as well the staffs of St. Croix Hospice and Mayo Clinic Health System.
Memoriams may be sent in Ron’s name to: Money Creek Cemetery Fund, 16946 Todd Road, Houston, Minn. 55943.
Funeral service will be 12:30 p.m., Monday, March 3, 2025, at Bethany Ev. Free Church with the Reverend Ed Clay officiating. Visitation will be 11 a.m., until the time of the service, at the church. He will be laid to rest at Money Creek Cemetery.
Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service – Houston is assisting the family with arrangements.
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