DANA CARLSON

DANA CARLSON

Dana Kermit Carlson, age 72 of Finley, ND, died Friday, March 3^rd at Sanford Medical Center Fargo. He was recently diagnosed with ALS.

Dana was born May 31, 1950 in Hope, ND to Kermit and Laura Jean (Erickson) Carlson. He was raised on the family farm west of Finley and graduated from Finley Public School in 1968. Dana graduated from North Dakota State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy and later a teaching degree from the University of Wyoming. He married Carol Mikkelson on December 29, 1973. Dana and Carol lived on their farm west of Finley and were blessed with four children.

His lifelong loves were farming, teaching, and his family. Dana was involved in his children’s school, 4-H, and FFA activities. He was never too busy for anyone and generously gave his time and talents serving on many local boards and organizations. As a dad and grandpa, he instilled the values of hard work, family, faith, and integrity.

Dana farmed with his brother, Larry, and later his son, Craig, and taught Vocational Agriculture and was FFA Advisor in Finley and Larimore. FFA held a special place in Dana’s heart and he was a lifetime member of the Finley-Sharon FFA Alumni Chapter.

Dana was easy going, kind, and humble. He would greet everyone he met with a smile and would oftentimes strike up a conversation with a complete stranger. Faith was also very important to Dana and he was a lifelong member of Sheyenne Valley Lutheran Church.

Dana is survived by his wife of 49 years, Carol; his mother Laura Jean; his children (grandchildren), Tina Carlson (Winona and William), Pam and Rob Ressler (Dominic and Shane), Michael and Tanya Carlson (Madison and McKinley), and Craig and Melissa Carlson (Theodore and Spencer); two sisters Jennifer (Dennis) Bayer, Vickie (Randy) Lindquist; two brothers Larry Carlson, Farrel (Gail) Carlson; sister-in-law Gail (Keith) Vandal; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and numerous friends.

He was preceded in death by his father Kermit Carlson; his mother and father-in-law Vince and Ardys Mikkelson, and his sister-in-law Carla Carlson.

The family asks that memorials be directed to the Sheyenne Valley Cemetery Fund, ND FFA Foundation, or the ALS Association.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 9, 2023 from 5:00 pm till 7:00 pm in the Quam-Plaisted-Cushman Funeral Home in Cooperstown, ND.  Funeral Services will be Friday, March 10, 2023 at 11:00 am in the Sheyenne Valley Lutheran Church, rural Finley,  ND.  Interment will in the Sheyenne Valley Cemetery, rural Finley, ND.