Eliesabeth Liz Carlson, 77, died on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral service will be Friday, November 5, 2010 at 10:30 AM at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls with Reverend Greg Schram Officiating. Burial will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, 5 " 8 PM at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls and also one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.

Eliesabeth Liz Bertha Grasruck was born May 4, 1933 at Teplitz Shoennale, now the Czech Republic, to Ignaz and Margarete (Maly) Grasruck. During WWII when Russia was invading Bohemia the family had to flee to Germany with only what they could carry of their personal items. She attended school in Neustadt vie Coburg in Germany. She worked at the Hummel Factory and Siemens in Germany. Liz met her husband while he was patrolling the East and West German border.

On January 28, 1954, Eliesabeth was united in marriage to Chester S. Carlson in Germany. Chester was honorably discharged from the US Army and returned to a farm near Thief River Falls. It took a year to get the papers so Liz could immigrate to the US.

She was a nurses aid and worked at Arctic Cat, owned and operated Carlsons Caf for several years, was a school bus driver for School District 564 for over 20 years. She also worked at Lutheran Social Services group home all in Thief River Falls.

Eliesabeth enjoyed knitting, crocheting, reading, shopping, cooking, music from her era and traveling, was always up on current events, and especially enjoyed her grandsons.

She is survived by her 5 children: Cornelia Nel Carlson, Columbus, OH, Keith (Tammy) Carlson, Vermillion, MN, Pete (Debra) Carlson, Thief River Falls, MN, Markus (Gayle) Carlson, Crystal, MN and Karin (Jason) Groves, Westerville, OH; 7 grandchildren: Jonah Carlson of Vermillion, MN, Josiah Carlson of Los Angeles, CA, Julian Carlson of Vermillion, MN, Gabriel Carlson, Alexander Carlson, Benjamin Carlson and Isaac Carlson all of Thief River Falls, MN; Brother-in-Law Tasso Christ of Germany; niece, Maren Christ, of Germany, nephew, Soeren (Carmen) Christ of Germany and grandnephews: Jannic and Jonas Christ, of Germany, and a very dear friend Sharon Bonaime.

Eliesabeth is preceded in death by husband, Chester Sylvan Carlson, parents and sister, Regina Christ.