Helen Mary Carlson

Helen Mary Carlson was born to Charles and Mary Redlin on September 11, 1938, in Desart, North Dakota. She grew up in New England and Dickinson, North Dakota, where her musical talent and leadership stood out. Known for her clear alto voice, Helen sang as a soloist, was a member of the girls’ quartet and Glee Club, and served as her class secretary. She graduated from Dickinson State Teachers College High School on May 29, 1956.

Helen’s childhood reflected the perseverance and strength of her family during difficult times. She attended a one-room schoolhouse taught by her sisters and, with her sister Marion, walked several miles to school through the harsh North Dakota winters. On the coldest days, her father would hitch a horse to a sled for their journey, with stones heated by their mother providing warmth. Growing up during the Great Depression, Helen and her family relied on their large garden for food, a testament to their resilience and strong work ethic. Helen was the youngest of six children and often reminisced about being the first to use the bathwater shared among her sisters.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents and five siblings: Delores (Roland), Orville (Esther), Hazel (Chris), Luella (Rudy), and Marion (Lee).

In 1957, Helen ventured west by train to attend Northwest Bible College in Seattle (now Northwest University, Kirkland, WA). There, she met the love of her life, Rollin J. Carlson. They married on June 6, 1959, and shared 65 beautiful years of marriage and ministry. Their pastoral journey led them to homes in Renton, Ellensburg, Arlington, and ultimately Everett, Washington, where Helen passed.

Helen and Rollin built a wonderful life together, raising four sons: Rob (Lisa), Mark (Karen), Greg (Janny), and Steve (Danielle). She was a proud grandmother to ten grandchildren: Reggie (Rachael), Shelby, Quinn, Kailee (John), Britt (Emma), Claire, Michael, Cody, Chase, and Celina. She also delighted in her five great-grandchildren: Rowan, Lilly, Winnie, Ruby, and River John.

Family was at the heart of Helen’s life. She and Rollin cherished family trips to North Dakota, California, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, Lake Chelan, Hawaii, and beyond. In their later years, they traveled together to the Holy Land, Germany, and throughout the United States, creating lifelong memories.

Helen was the embodiment of grace, kindness, and love. As a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, she touched the lives of everyone she met with her warmth, wisdom, generosity, and steadfast faith. Her legacy is one of compassion and virtue, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Helen’s family and friends will forever admire and cherish her memory. Her love lives on in the hearts of those blessed to know her, and her presence will never be forgotten.

A celebration of life for Helen will be held Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Bethany Christian Assembly, 2715 Everett Ave, Everett, Washington 98201.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Bethany Compassion Center at https://www.fellowshiponegiving.com/App/Form/3e15f336-5e88-41e1-9197-8bb0bc9e559c

Join us as we celebrate the life of Helen Carlson on October 19, 1:00pm, Bethany Christian Assembly, Everett. You can watch the live stream of the memorial service at Helen Carlson Celebration of Life (youtube.com)

An Open Letter to My Darling Wife, Helen Mary Redlin Carlson

My Dearest Helen:

Your gorgeous beauty is identical internally and externally, so many say that not just me. From the first time I saw you in September of 1957 I’ve considered myself the most fortunate man in the world. To have known you nearly 70 years and blessed to have shared married life and full time pastoral ministry together for over 65 years consecutively. Your spiritual depth, deep caring ability for others and your profound prayerful commitment for God’s blessing and ultimate purpose in the lives of each of our family members are only a very few of your supreme qualities. Then, Helen, there is the manner in which you accept every other human being God has created as His child, without question.

I have to say that your infectious laughter has always helped to keep family life meaningful and hilarious no matter the circumstances. At the same time you are always conscious of the gravity of the matter at hand.

I look at the picture of you holding the pan of cinnamon rolls, one of your culinary expertise expressions always for the benefit of others, family and friends. I saw how hard you worked at those moments pouring yourself into whatever blessing you could provide to family. There is so much in my full heart, sweetheart, when I reminisce the landscape of nearly 70 years. But space and time are limited to verbalize more. You wrote in your “Grandmothers Remembers” book, these words:

“The day I had a baby surely changed my life. We were now a family, I was now a mother and a wife”

When I first saw you Helen I knew in my heart you had to be my wife and lifelong partner. You were beautiful, sassy, fun, loved by everyone, classy, stylish, well dressed, well kept, and much, much, more. I realized how much you loved your siblings and how much they loved you. That fact helped me understand how you would relate to me and our children in the future. Honey, you were deeply spiritual and I could tell you loved the Lord above all. You were a little cautious about me, which was cool. Then finally you forsook all others and chose me! You are the best human relationship I could ever have prayed for; you have impacted my life more than you could ever realize. I love you more today than in the beginning. I miss you terribly.

Oh Helen, I did get the raspberries picked today! I can hardly wait to join you.

We believed it together…. “To be absent…..is to be present!”

Your Forever Devoted,

Rollin