Gene Margit Carlson

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening. Psalm 92:1-2 Yes, Mom could declare the steadfast love of the Lord in the "morning" of her life; and looking back in the "evening" of her life, she could proclaim how faithful He had been all throughout. Mom was born October 5, 1924 in Sidney, MT, to Esther and Oystein Kvaalen, the third-born, after Oscar and Arne, and older sister to Joyce. She grew up on their farm/ranch outside of Lambert, MT, where their home did not have electricity or running water until she entered college. She and her siblings went by horse-drawn cart or sleigh to a one-room schoolhouse in the country. Though their life lacked modern conveniences, they were blessed to have a loving home, as well as a stable church and community. As a teenager at a Bible camp in the badlands of eastern MT she felt God calling her to missions; little did she know how that would play out. She graduated from Lambert High School in 1941, and went on to Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, finishing in 1945. She studied physical therapy at the University of MN, then worked at St. Barnabas Hospital in Minneapolis, primarily with polio patients during the polio epidemic. She met Oliver while he was at Luther Seminary and they were married May 29, 1950 in Lambert Lutheran Church. Margit was born in Minneapolis the next year, and, after Dad graduated, they moved to Shepherd, MT to serve their first parish, which they very much enjoyed. There Timothy and Greta were added. Soon, however, they felt God calling them to the mission field; and so, in 1954 they went for a year of language study in Paris, then on to Madagascar. They served 2 terms in Madagascar, during the years 1955-1967. Nathan, Camilla and Christopher were born during this time, and the towns of Ambovombe, Antanimora, Tsihombe and Manantenina would be their homes and places of ministry. Mom was busy with the children and assisting Oliver with the mission work; in addition, she found opportunity to put her physical therapy skills to use. Margit, Timothy and Nathan went to the boarding school in Fort Dauphin. While on furlough, in November of 1961, Dad and Mom, while seeking healing for Greta, their mentally handicapped daughter, took her to a church meeting led by William S. Reid, MD, an Episcopalian involved in healing and Holy Spirit renewal. Through his ministry they received a fresh empowerment of the Holy Spirit and their lives and ministries were transformed. When they returned to Madagascar, their work focused on sharing with the Malagasy people the same spiritual fullness and healing they had received and they also began working in earnest with the Fifohazana, the Malagasy "awakening" movement. In 1968, Dad and Mom felt called to Daystar Ministries, and we moved to Zion Harbor, a Bible camp on Leech Lake in Northern MN, where Dad became the director. Mom was the registrar, and was the warm, welcoming face that greeted all who arrived. In 1977, they transferred to the Daystar Gardner center in Fargo, ND, continuing their ministry. In 1978-79 they lived in Strasbourg, France, working with the spiritual renewal movement in Alsace/Lorraine; Cami and Christopher were still living with them, and Mom enjoyed hosting many family, extended family and friends. In 1983, they returned to Madagascar, to Tsihombe, for five more years of mission work with the Malagasy Lutheran Church and the Fifohazana. Mom had a mobile bookstore in the back of their vehicle, providing Christian resources at a discount; and a "back porch clinic" where she treated the sick with prayer and medicines under the guidance of the missionary doctors at Manambaro. She and Dad again hosted many family and friends for visits. In 1989, having retired from the mission field, they were invited to live in the parsonage of North Heights Lutheran Church, where Mom became active in women's and prayer ministry, mentoring students in the Lay Ministry Training Center (LMTC), as well as being a host home for students from the LMTC and the Master's Institute. They also made short-term mission trips back to Madagascar, and also to Russia and India. And as the family grew, she and Dad spent a lot of time visiting and hosting them. Family was very important to Mom. Having come from a strong, loving family, and being secure in God's love for her, she just naturally created a warm environment. We knew that we were loved and accepted. She also set high standards for us and modeled them. Daily family devotions with Bible study, prayer and singing were important to her. And she and Dad spent a lot of time praying for us. She loved to cook, bake, can and sew, and used that to bless us and others. Community was also a big part of her life. She came from a rich community life and engendered the same around her. In her college and young adult life she had many treasured friendships which lasted her whole life. The missionary family also became very dear to her, in Madagascar and in retirement years. Her Daystar friendships were also cherished. And at North Heights she developed relationships with those she worked alongside of and ministered to. She was a beloved friend of many people. Mom was keenly aware of God's faithfulness. During the 14 years working with Daystar Ministries they had no salary, yet God provided their every need. And through all their 70 years of marriage they never owned a home, yet God always provided a nice place to live, including the past 32 years in the North Heights Lutheran Church parsonage. A promise God had given them was fulfilled: "My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." Isaiah 32:18. The last several years of her life, Mom had many physical hardships. Yet she remained her usual sweet, gracious, prayerful, content, resilient self. This was her last, and perhaps one of the best gifts she gave us. Late in life Mom started writing down verses in Psalms about God's faithfulness. She only got through Psalm 59 but found quite a few. Indeed, God's steadfast love carried her all through life, and she could declare his faithfulness in the "evening." Excerpts from her "Faithfulness of God" verses: Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield. Psa. 5:11,12 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me. Psa. 13:5, 6 This God-his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. Psa. 18:30 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psa. 20:7 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. Psa. 22:4, 5 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. -The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. Psa. 25:10, 14 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. Psa. 27:4,5 She is survived by her children Margit Thorndal of Laurel, MT, Timothy Carlson of Roseville MN, Greta Carlson of Park Rapids MN, Nathan (Jenny) Carlson of Castle Rock CO, Camilla (Todd) Jacobsen of Sioux Falls SD, Christopher (Kim) Carlson of Fridley MN; 16 grandchildren and step-grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, and 24 nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Oliver Carlson, parents Oystein and Esther Kvaalen, siblings Oscar Kvaalen, Arne Kvaalen and Joyce Carlson, and son-in-law William Thorndal. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There will be a casual gathering of family and friends, Friday, July 30th from 7-8 PM at North Heights Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 2701 North Rice Street, Roseville. All are welcome. Please join us. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, July 31st at 11 AM at North Heights Lutheran Church, 2701 North Rice Street, Roseville, MN with a luncheon to follow. Memorials may be sent to North Heights Lutheran Church, Global Health Ministries or Friends of Madagascar Mission.

Tributes

Gene Margit Carlson

October 5, 1924 - June 17, 2021

Tributes

Gene Margit Carlson

October 5, 1924 - June 17, 2021

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