Berdeen C. Karlson

Funeral Services for Berdeen C. Karlson will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Kenton Birtell officiating.  Interment will be held at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege, following services.

Berdeen Clare Karlson, 87 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Saturday, November 9, 2019, one day short of her 88 ^th birthday at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. Berdeen Clare (Friedline) Karlson was born November 10, 1931, at Davenport, Nebraska, the third of five daughters to Dale and Orva (Avers) Friedline.  She was raised on the family farm in Thayer County, near Davenport.  She was baptized and confirmed at the Christ Lutheran Church at Davenport.  She began her education at Davenport, and then graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1949.

On December 23, 1951, she was united in marriage to Burton Karlson in Lincoln, Nebraska.  To this union three children were born: Sherry, Brenda, and Dudley.  After their marriage Burton resumed his duty at Elmendorf, Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska until his honorable discharge.  The family made their home in Holdrege, and engaged in farming and cattle feeding north of Funk, where Berdeen assisted Burton with the family operation until their retirement in 1997.  In 2000, one of her greatest honors was when Burton and Berdeen were selected as the Swedish King and Queen.  In 2004, the family was honored by Ak-Sar-Ben with the Pioneer Family Award for continuous ownership of the family farm for 100 years.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and devoted farmwife.

Berdeen was a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church.  Throughout the years, she served on many church boards.  For many years, Berdeen served on the election board for Phelps County, was past President of Phelps County Democratic Women, and active member of the Tre Kroner Society.

Berdeen will be remembered for her love of animal prints and sparkles.  She enjoyed slot machines and scratch tickets, and was the luckiest one in the family.  Berdeen was especially proud of her grandchildren and their accomplishments, appreciated her many friends, and loved the time spent with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Burton Karlson on December 11, 2010; her daughter, Sherry Damrow; two grandsons:  Jason Wagner and Barton Damrow; three sisters:  Davalla Friedline in infancy; Ila Borden; and Elva Nelson; and brothers-in-law:  Laurel Borden; Jim Gessford; Randal Fandry; and Conrad Boehler.

Berdeen leaves to celebrate her life; her two children: Brenda Wagner and her husband, Mark of Woodbury, Minnesota; and Dudley Karlson and his wife, Linda of Holdrege; son-in-law, Dennis Damrow of Holdrege; five grandchildren: Lynse Schmidt and her husband; Tim of Holdrege; Shannon Wagner of Denver, Colorado; Kelsey Wagner Minneapolis, Minnesota; Kayla Arnold and her husband, Travis of Shelton, Nebraska; and Jared Karlson of Minneapolis: three great-grandsons: Austin, Cael, and Kaden Schmidt; sister, Sharilyn Miller and her husband, Don of Upland, Nebraska; sisters-in-law:  Erlene Gessford of Firth, Nebraska; Gayle Fandry of Hastings, Nebraska; and June Boehler of Holdrege; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Berdeen's honor, and kindly suggested to the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church; the Holdrege Senior Center; or the Holdrege Rescue Squad.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.