|
|
Rev. Lowell O. Carlson |
|
July 03, 1929 ~ November 12, 2015 |
|
November 20, 2015 |
 Rev.
Lowell O. Carlson, age 86, passed away on
November 12, 2015 at Bonner General Health in
Sandpoint, Idaho. Funeral Services were held on
Saturday, November 21, 2015 at Becker Auditorium
with private interment following.
Lowell was born on July 3, 1929 in Darlington,
Idaho, a town just a bit smaller than Naples .
When he was just a young child, his family
bought a farm at Notus, Idaho. They moved there
to farm and raise their three children. Lowell
went to school in Notus, grades 1 – 12. He rode
his horse to school as some of the kids did. He
told many tales of growing up in Notus. Stories
like riding his horse through town with friends
and putting all the street lights out, riding to
the river and having big bonfires and good eats,
pulling various items behind the horse for
sledding parties when they were lucky enough to
have snow, later driving up mountain roads with
a car where he shouldn’t have been. He really
enjoyed his youth and had lifelong friends that
he has been in contact with all through the
years.
When he was sixteen he got truly interested in
spiritual things. He spent hours talking to his
Mom and Dad about the Bible, asking many
questions. He read the Bible and many other
books, about missionary life, and theological
things as well. He thought for a time he would
like to be a missionary in Tibet. God had other
plans for him. He actually started his first
ministry at a youth camp in the Idaho Mountains.
When he finished high school he went to Santa
Barbara California in his model T. He took his
older sister with him as she was returning to
Westmont College where he was planning to
attend. He had a huge adjustment to make in so
many ways, because he was just a country farm
boy. He was quickly nicknamed Spud. He is still
called that by the friends he made there.
Sometime into his first year of school a
professor sat him down under a tree and had
quite a talk with him. He then began to take
school a bit more seriously. He sang with a
quartet while he attended there and traveled to
many different kinds of churches. It was during
that time when he decided it didn’t matter what
the name on the church was, there were many
wonderful believers in every denomination.
After college he married Joyce and moved to New
Cuyama, California. While he was there he
started a Bible church, worked in the oil fields
to support his family, and had their son Tim and
a baby girl named Ester that died shortly after
birth. He lived there for five years and made
many more life time friends. He performed his
first marriage there and remained friends all
through the years with them until they both
passed away.
His next move brought him to Kendrick, Idaho.
That is where he started his teaching career. He
mentioned many times that it is where he got his
baptism of fire teaching. He also worked at the
mill while he was there and worked with special
friends. They all came to Bonners Ferry and
ended up teaching school at the same school for
many years. Son Brent was born while they were
in Kendrick.
Lowell ’s next move was to Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
In the summers he worked at the mills, learned
to load box cars with lumber, and went back to
teaching during the school year.
He taught at Valley View. He loved teaching.
Also daughters Mary and Jennifer were added to
the family while in Bonners Ferry. He taught in
Valley view for about five years and then went
to Naples and taught for a few years. He was
greatly loved by his students.
In the early 1970s they moved to Moscow so
Lowell could go to school and get his Masters
degree in Elementary Administration. While there
he taught school at McDonald Grade School in an
open classroom concept. He learned many more
skills of teaching while he was there. He loved
that experience.
His last move was back up north. He lived at
Hope and was principal at Clark Fork in a school
grades 1-12 for two years before finishing his
career in education. He was greatly loved by
many of his students and he returned their love.
In 1978 he met and fell in love with Bonnie and
they were married June 22, 1979. Two more
children were added to his family at that time,
Doug and Lauri Bell. They both highly respected
and loved Lowell . They had thirty six years of
many awesome adventures. They have shared their
home with many children, teenagers and adults
that needed a place of reprieve for a time to
grow, heal, and just learn to live. All of them
making life richer for Lowell . It was during
this time Lowell and Bonnie adopted one more
child. It was a teenager they had off and on
since she was eleven. Marilyn became number
seven.
I can’t begin to touch all the highlights of the
last thirty six years but I will quickly hit a
few. They are not in any sense of order.
Pastoring the Free Methodist church for 22
years.
Preforming marriages and funerals for so many in
our community.
The incredible gift our church gave when they
sent us to Stand in the Gap in Washington D.C.
Our living experiences, from caretaking homes,
cabin living, teepee living, to our wonderful
home on Highland Flats. Every one of them
enjoyed to the fullest.
Our trip to Israel. A gift from our church
family and the whole community. There just are
not words that can express our appreciation and
thanks for allowing us to have that experience.
All the people in and out of our home.
Most of all, the love that we have felt and
experienced during Lowell ’s life time here.
He is survived by his wife Bonnie, son Tim
Carlson and wife Donna, Brent Carlson and
Daughter Lauri, Doug Bell and wife Lorraine,
Mary Seppela and Jim, Jennifer Hellman and
husband Greg, Marilyn Kammer and husband Ken.
Twenty one grandchildren and six great
grandchildren, many loved nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Orient
and Ruth Carlson, sister Alice Mordhorst,
brother-in-law Jim Mordhorst, sister Shirley
Eyestone, son-in-law Steve Seppela.
Lowell will leave an empty place in our lives,
but we are all richer by having known him.
Family and friends are invited to sign Lowell’s
book at
www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangements
are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry
Funeral Home. |
|
|
|
|
