Lois V. Carlson

A Funeral Service for Lois V. Carlson will be held on Monday, November 15, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Murray Jones officiating. Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

The funeral service will be live streamed via the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Homes Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Nelson-Bauer-Funeral-Homes-111601113801622

Lois Virginia Carlson, 100 years of age, of Holdrege, died on November 7, 2021, at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege.  Lois was born in Holdrege on August 10, 1921, the oldest of four children, born to Carl and Verna (Leafgren) Bergstrom. When Lois was nine months old, she moved with her family to the Leafgren farm ten miles east of Holdrege where her parents engaged in farming. At the age of four she started school at district #9 in Kearney County where Miss. Viola Norblade was her first teacher. A few years later she transferred to Wilcox school for one year and then completed elementary school at District #15 in Phelps County. Lois attended and graduated from Wilcox High School in 1938. She then moved to Hastings where she pursued higher education at Beauty Culture College.

Following her education, Lois worked as a beautician in the Holdrege area. When World War II broke out, she moved to Hollywood, California and was employed at Weber Showcase & Fixture Co. who had sub-contracts with Douglas and Lockheed.  She became a Riveter on the Bomb Bay doors of the Lockheed P-38 and the leading edge of the wings of the Douglas A-20.

Six days before Richard F. Carlson left for the service, he and Lois were united in marriage on February 6, 1943. For the first couple years of their marriage Richard spent in service to his county and Lois continued to work in California. Richard returned from the Pacific in 1945 and they moved into their first home in Holdrege. The couple were blessed with seven children:  Jane Ann, Mary Virginia, Joan Elizabeth, Ruth, Richard Carl, Robert John, and Julie Lynne.

Lois was employed as a beautician at the Methodist Memorial Homes and also the Christian Homes in Holdrege for several years and then worked at Becton Dickinson for twenty-two years.

She enjoyed collecting dolls and writing poetry. Lois had a natural talent for planning fun birthday parties. She loved tending to her flower and vegetable gardens and spent many hours canning in the fall. Lois was an active member of the Trinity Evangelical Free Church where she sang in the church choir, the White Cross Sewing Group, and the Gideon Auxiliary.

Lois loved to care for others, she met the needs of her mother who still lived in her own home on Morton Street until she was 101 years old. Lois continued meeting her needs after she moved into Methodist Memorial Homes and even after her mother's passing at 103 years old in December of 1998, she still spent time with friends that she made when her mother was there. Lois was also a hospice volunteer, drove others to their doctors' appointments, and visited residents at Christian Homes every afternoon.

Besides her husband and parents, Lois was preceded in death by, two children: Ruth and Robert John who were both born at rest; her brother, James Bergstrom and his wife, Marge; two sons-in-law: Bruce Fischer; Bill Bauhard; and three brothers-in-law: John Campbell; Cal Miller; and Harold Reed.

Lois is survived by her children: Jane Fischer of Salem, Oregon; Mary Bauhard of Elkhorn, Nebraska; Joan Browning and her husband, Mike of Grand Island, Nebraska; Richard Carlson and his wife, Cheryl of Omaha, Nebraska; and Julie Means of Moore, Oklahoma; 10 grandchildren: Angela Lallman (Wayne); Alison Uhlig (Ron); April Keener (Brit); Ron Browning (Tricia); Jean Browning; Rachel Carlson; Richard "Trip" Carlson; Will Gaines (Carli); Cassandra Moore (Aaron); and Christopher Gaines; 17 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; sisters: Mary Lou Miller; and Kathryn Reed; and a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

A memorial book signing will be held on Sunday, November 14, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with family greeting friends from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Lois' honor, and kindly suggested to the Trinity Evangelical Free Church.

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.