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Nola Carlson, 89, of Storm Lake died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023 at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Oct. 7, at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Burial was in Storm Lake Cemetery.
Nola Claire (Meyer) Carlson was born in Sioux Rapids on May 25, 1934. Nola is the daughter of Albert “Bud” and Della (Berg) Meyer. Nola was baptized and confirmed in Marathon United Methodist Church. She graduated from Marathon High School in 1952.
On July 26, 1953 she was united in marriage to Glen DeWayne Carlson in Marathon. Nola and Glen made their home in Storm Lake for several years, moved to Alta in 1969, before returning to Storm Lake in 1994. They had three children: Jocelyn, Scott and Gregory.
Nola was an avid seamstress and enjoyed sewing for her family when they were young. She loved reading and always had a book by her chair or bedside. In her later years, she was interested in writing her family history and writing about Glen and other family members’ service to their country. She enjoyed many hours of watching sporting events on TV. If a high school game wasn’t on television, she made sure to listen to it on the radio. Attending her children and grandchildren’s sporting events or concerts was always a highlight. Family was very important to Nola.
Nola loved taking pictures. It was evident when she moved into Otsego Place. Sorting through her home, her family found many boxes of pictures and photo albums. She really loved to tell a story by her pictures and her writings.
Nola was employed at the Alta Advertiser and Storm Lake Advertiser for several years writing articles, helping with layout and anything else that was needed.
Nola was a member of Alta United Methodist Church, UMW and Circle. She was a lifetime member of Alta VFW Auxiliary 6172 and Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Chapter 33 where she served as commander to several offices.
Seeing the need for girls’ activities in the summers, Nola and her friend Marvel Rosdail pioneered and started girls softball in Storm Lake in 1968. Together they set to work finding coaches, knocking on business doors to find sponsors. Some people were reluctant, but eventually sold on the idea. They formed teams, scheduling fields, made schedules and rules and made uniforms for the athletes.
Nola is survived by her daughter Jocelyn (Leland) Bedell of Maple Valley, Wash.; sons: Scott (Colleen) Carlson of Sergeant Bluff; Gregory (Doreen) Carlson of Ida Grove; grandchildren: Benjamin Bedell, Rebecca (Ocean Costello) and Elizabeth Bedell; Jeffrey (Rachel) Carlson; and Jason (Kat) Carlson, Trevor Carlson, Brittany (Jay) Liechti and Jordan Carlson; 10 great-grandchildren; sister Laura (Marlin) Weier; and many nieces, nephews; great-nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Gaylon Anderson.
Nola was preceded in death by her husband Glen; parents, Albert and Della Meyer; brother Billie (Charlotte); sisters, Marlyss (Bill) Bryant and Nila (Rodney) Miller; parents in-law Oscar and Blanche Carlson; in addition to many nephews.
