Ardis Elrene Carlson

Ardis "Ardy" Elrene Anderson Carlson, age 95, of New Brighton, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2026, going home to be with her Savior, Jesus Christ. She lived a life marked by quiet faithfulness-whether welcoming a newborn into the world, greeting someone at church with a warm smile, playing hymns on the piano, or gathering her family around the table, she made people feel loved. She leaves behind a legacy of steadfast faith, gentle kindness, and unwavering devotion to her family. Ardy was born on May 4, 1931, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and was raised alongside two sisters by her mother and grandparents. She grew up at Central Baptist Church in St. Paul, where she accepted Christ at the age of nine. Some of her fondest childhood memories were made on relatives' farms in Southern Minnesota, where she and her cousins played in the hayloft, rode the hay racks, and picked strawberries and green beans-always returning to her grandma's lemonade and crispy rolls. Ardy loved music throughout her life, taking piano lessons for eleven years before learning the organ, and singing with her sisters at home and in the choir at both school and church. She graduated from Minnehaha Academy in 1949 and attended Bethel College in St. Paul for two years before transferring to Hamline University's Mounds-Midway School of Nursing, where she earned her degree as a Registered Nurse. During high school and college, she worked part-time at Midway Hospital, first as a dietary aide and later as a nurse's aide. It was while attending Bethel College that Ardy met Philip Carlson. The two were married on June 19, 1954. They lived in a fourplex on Sherburne Avenue in Saint Paul before moving to Saint Louis Park, where Phil taught math at Hopkins High School. When Phil later joined the faculty at Bethel College, the couple built a new home in New Brighton. For nearly forty years, Ardy served as a registered nurse at Midway Hospital, most of that time in the Labor and Delivery department. Thousands of families began some of the happiest days of their lives under her calm, compassionate care. Nursing wasn't simply her profession-it was an extension of her servant's heart. Salem Baptist Church became one of Ardy's greatest joys. From its earliest days-when the first gatherings met in the Carlson family living room-she poured herself into the life of the congregation. She taught children, encouraged others through Stephen Ministry, welcomed newcomers each Sunday, and quietly served wherever she was needed. For Ardy, church was never simply a place to attend; it was a family to love and a community in which to live out her faith. If you attended Salem Baptist Church/Gracepoint, chances are you were welcomed by Ardy's smile before you ever reached the sanctuary. She had a gift for making people feel seen, remembered, and genuinely cared for. Ardy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Philip Carlson, and her sister Shirley. She is lovingly remembered by her sister Doreen; her children, Kathy (Mike) Emerson, Gwen Carlson, and Tom (Joanna) Carlson; six grandchildren, Amy Emerson, Rachel Emerson Sargent (Sam), Jonathan Emerson (Lauren), Meghan McManus (Aaron), Alayna Carlson, and Elsie Carlson; five great-grandchildren; and many extended family members, church friends, former colleagues, and all whose lives were enriched by her kindness and unwavering faith. Celebration of life service will be on Saturday, June 27 at 1 pm with visitation at 12 pm at GracePoint Church, 2351 Rice Creek Rd, New Brighton, MN 55112. Private interment. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." - 2 Timothy 4:7 Ardy lived the words of the Apostle Paul, and those who knew her can say they were true of her life. We rejoice knowing she has heard the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Ardis Elrene Carlson

May 4, 1931 - June 16, 2026

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