Garvin A. Carstens

Memorial services for Garvin Carstens, of Willmar, formerly of Donnelly, will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris with a visitation beginning at 12 noon.  Burial will be at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Hoffman following the service.

Garvin August Carstens was born on December 2, 1935, in Ward County, North Dakota, to Henry August and Vesta Marie (Ladd) Carstens.  Garvin was baptized as an infant in North Dakota, and confirmed as an adult in Minnesota.  Garvin received his education in Tolley, North Dakota.  Around the age of 15, He moved to Stevens County, Minnesota, and worked for various farms and ranches in Minnesota and South Dakota.  In the early 1950’s, Garvin enlisted into the United States Army.  He was stationed in both Germany and New Mexico.  Recently, Garvin went to an Army reunion at Fort Hood, Texas, where his battalion was honored for helping to keep the US out of the Cold War. 

On June 9, 1962, Garvin was united in marriage to a young lady from Tolley, North Dakota, Patsey Cleo Revo, in Tolley.  Following their marriage, they returned to Stevens Country where they lived on a couple of farms until 1968, when they purchased their own farm near Donnelly.  The couple farmed, milked cows and had some miscellaneous other livestock.  They raised their family together on this property.  When they were ready for a change, Garvin and Pat, had an auction sale, and Garvin began driving truck and hauling gravel, eventually starting his own business Garvin Carstens Gravel Hauling.  Throughout the years, he worked for Art Stahn Trucking, Eystad’s Trucking, and later E.W. Wylie Trucking, where he was awarded with hauling well over One Million Accident-Free Miles.  Patsey preceded Garvin in death in 2009.  Garvin continued living on the farm and working for AH Newman Trucking, still working six days a week until his retirement at age 84.  Garvin reunited with Jean Evenson, who he courted at age 15; the two rekindled their young romance and were married on January 18, 2020, in Spicer, Minnesota.  They lived near Hoffman for a time before moving to Willmar, Minnesota. 

Garvin was the happiest outside – deer hunting, farming, gardening, plowing, going to Threshing Bees and the Tractor Club.  He loved tractors and machinery, especially his bulldozers.  He enjoyed ‘playing in the dirt’ and finding someone to play in the dirt with him!  He still went to the farm 3-4 days a week, to work in his shop.  Garvin was very soft-hearted, and was forever helping people.  He made an impact to many people, known and unknown, and was so thankful for the ability to help others.  Most importantly, Garvin cherished the time that he was able to spend with his family. 

Garvin died on Friday, August 25, 2023, at his shop near Donnelly, of natural causes, doing what he loved.  He was 87 years old.

Garvin is survived by his wife, Jean Carstens of Willmar; children: Kathryn (Lee) Wersinger of Pennock, Michael (Angie) Carstens of Austin, and Victoria (Brock) Surerus of Donnelly; grandchildren: Nathan Wersinger of Murdock, Amanda Carstens of Albert Lea, Molly Carstens of Austin, Joseph Surerus of Donnelly, and Laura Surerus of Sioux Falls, SD; two great-grandsons: Braedan and Dean Wersinger; step-children: Lonny (Jenn) Evenson of Stafford, VA, Kevin Evenson of Kandiyohi,  Troy (Randy) Evenson of Robbinsdale, Douglas (Missy) Evenson of Pennock, Brad (Kristi) Evenson of Roseville, and Chad Evenson of Willmar; 15 step-grandchildren; 8 step-great-grandchildren; sisters: Laura (Donnovan) Funke of Minot, ND, Betty Wolfe of Thousand Oaks, CA, and Ann Fitch of Owatonna; and other extended family.  Garvin is preceded in death by his first wife, Patsey; his parents: Henry and Vesta; and one sister, Linda.