Agnes M Carlson

Agnes M. Carlson, age 95, of Redwood Falls, MN, formerly of Murdock and Willmar, MN passed away on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Garnette Gardens in Redwood Falls. Funeral Service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Bethany Church in Clara City, MN, with a luncheon to follow at the church. Burial will be held in Bethany Church Cemetery in Clara City, MN following the luncheon. Visitation will be held one hour prior to her service at the church.

The Nelson-Hillestad Funeral and Cremation Services of Morgan and Redwood Falls are in charge of the arrangements. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelson-hillestad.com.

Agnes Mae Carlson, the daughter of Peter J. and Josie (Roelofs) Berghuis, and the sixth of their ten children, was born April 17, 1931 on the family farm near Lynden, Washington. April 17 has proven to be a good birthday, as Agnes’ oldest brother, Harley, and her great-grandson, Nate, were also born on that day.

When Agnes was five years old, the family returned to Minnesota. She got to travel by train with baby sister Patricia and their mother; little Agnes was proud to have the job of carrying the diaper bag! (The rest of the family traveled over the mountains by car.) They settled in Clara City, and Agnes received her formal education there, graduating with the class of 1949. In school she was a member of the pep club and the band. A percussionist, she played the bass drum in the marching band. As she was quite petite, the band director enlisted a grade-school boy to carry the large bass drum while Agnes pounded out the beat.

Following graduation, Agnes worked in the bookkeeping department of Variety Supply Company. She and her girlfriends enjoyed going to “town ball” games. At one particular baseball game, Agnes met Curtis Carlson – a handsome farmer from Murdock. Agnes and Curtis were married August 7, 1953 at Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City. Because Curtis had been drafted into the Army between their engagement and wedding, after their honeymoon he shipped out to Germany and Agnes remained in her parents’ home.

In February 1955, Curtis returned home and the happy couple moved to the Carlson farm south of Murdock. Agnes loved farm life; she had a huge garden and beautiful flower beds. Agnes sewed her girls’ dresses (all of their dresses), and was an amazing cook and baker. She taught her daughters how to can and freeze garden produce, the intricacies of weeding the garden and flower beds, and how to sew, cook and bake. She was a 4-H adult leader and club sewing project leader, a member of Bethany Mission Circle and later the Esther Circle and Quilters. Agnes enjoyed bi-weekly ceramics class where she made several large Nativity sets which were given to family and friends. She belonged to the Louriston Sunbeams Homemakers’ (Extension) Club and the Murdock Band Mothers. She and Curtis enjoyed spending time at Dakota Beach near Park Rapids and yearly short winter trips to Arizona.

Following Curtis’ death in 2001, Agnes moved to Willmar. There she volunteered with Youth for Christ, was part of the neighborhood coffee group, and faithfully attended water aerobics several times a week. In 2021, Agnes moved to Garnette Gardens in Redwood Falls to be closer to her family. Agnes loved her family. She was proud of her 100% Dutch heritage and enjoyed spending time with her extended family. Agnes adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and attended as many of their activities as possible.

Agnes is survived by her daughters Jackie (husband Paul) Lueck of Redwood Falls, and Judy (husband Curt) Thompson of St. Michael; grandchildren Betsy (husband Ryan) Goblirsch, Suzanne (husband Kinsey) Anderson, Erica (husband Matt) Volna and Dustin Thompson (wife Brie Roland); and great-grandchildren Sam, Gabe, and Nate Goblirsch, Nikki Anderson, and Isaac, Evie, and Timothy Volna. Also surviving are her sister Candee Schueler; brother Larry (wife Lana) Berghuis; sister-in-law Janice Stager; brother-in-law Bill Willander; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Curtis, brothers Harley, Glenn and Robert Berghuis; sisters Gladys Korthuis, Susan Asche, Betty Docken, and Patricia Willander; and in-laws E.P. Carlson, Lorraine Norrander, and Meredith Froehlich.

Blessed be her memory.