Florence Carlson, 85, died on Saturday, March 8, 2003 at Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena, MN.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 11, 2003-2:00 PM at Community Bible Church in Grygla, Minnesota with Rev John Barkman Officiating. Burial will be in the Espelie Cemetery, rural Grygla, Minnesota.

Visitation will be held on Monday from 5:00 until 8:00 PM at the Johnson Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls and on Tuesday one hour prior to the service in the church.

Florence was born on August 24, 1917 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of William James and Alice C. (Weber) Hildreth. She was baptized in September of 1917, Confirmed in April of 1928 and grew to adulthood in Detroit. She stayed home and worked in the family funeral home and also in a candy factory following school.

Florence went on vacation to California in 1941, where she met Clarence Harold Carlson, Sr., whom she eventually married in California. Clarence worked in California and in 1942 they went to visit his parents in Grygla on the farm, then went to Michigan and stayed with Florences parents. In March of 1943 they moved back to Grygla. Clarence bought the family farm in 1943, which is still in the family today. After Clarences death in September 1975, Florence moved with her daughter Renee to Minneapolis where she got a job in a restaurant. She later retired and moved to Pine River, MN where she resided in her own apartment. In 2000 she moved into Shady Lane Nursing Home.

Florence was a very sharp woman, enjoying TV detective shows and love stories, baking, spending time with her family, had a love for babies and going for car rides.

Survivors include her children William Carlson of Dalbo, MN, James (Marianne) Carlson of Longville, MN, Renee Bowman of Grygla, Rodney (Patty) Carlson of Gatzke, MN; grandchildren Ricky (special friend Ann) Carlson, Laura (Dave) Wilkerling, Darrin (Debbie) Frederick, Dean Frederick, Lora (Darrin) Cameron, Charles (Sue) Carlson, Roberta (Scott) Blake, Jessica Carlson, great grandchildren Stephen Wilkerling, Jeff , Mark and Justin Cameron, James, Shalee, Moranda, Jay and Zack Frederick, John and Jay Blake, Elise and Sophie Carlson; brother Norman Hildreth of Novi, MI and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Clarence Sr., on September 14, 1975, son Clarence Jr., on June 11, 1998, brother Bill and sisters Verna, Grace and Elsie.