Kathy Carlson

Memorial services for Kathy Carlson, of Morris, Minnesota, will be held on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris with Father Todd Schneider celebrating the mass.  A visitation will be on Tuesday, August 22, from 4-7:00 p.m. with a prayer service and rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m.at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church on Wednesday.  Burial will be at Pepperton Cemetery, rural Alberta. 

Kathleen Marie Kill was the 5^th child born to William and Geesien (Kruize) Kill on May 2, 1958, in Morris, Minnesota.  She was raised on the family farm in rural Donnelly.  Kathy was baptized and confirmed at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris.  She received her education at Morris Public School, graduating with the Morris High School Class of 1976.  Following her schooling, Kathy worked various jobs in the Morris area, including working for a cleaning service and bartending at the Legion and Met.  While bartending at the Legion, Kathy met Richard Carlson.  The two began dating and were married on October 15, 1983, at Federated Church in Morris.  The couple, along with Kathy’s son Kyle, made their home two and a half miles north of Morris; they would welcome two more sons, Christopher and Geoffrey to complete their family.  Shortly after their marriage, Kathy began her career at Pamida, and later Shopko, for over 30 years until the closing of the store.  She then went to Morris Area Elementary School, working as a paraprofessional until January of 2023, when she retired due to her health. 

Kathy was an active member of the Minnesota Deer Hunter Association and the American Legion Auxiliary. She found joy in many hobbies, including: arts, crafts, embroidery, sewing, birdwatching, and her extensive Cherished Teddies collection.  In earlier years, Kathy and Rick attended several auction sales and worked side-by-side building their family home.  Not a carpenter by trade, Kathy was a hard worker and made an excellent carpenter, even helping Geoff with his family home.  Kathy was always moving 100 miles an hour and had projects constantly in the works.  She attended sporting events, not because she enjoyed the game, but for her nephew and grandchildren.  One sport that she did enjoy was enduro racing, especially watching Chris and Jon and Amy; she would even help work on the cars and paint them when it was needed.

Mostly, Kathy cherished her grandchildren, Courtney and Jacob.  She looked forward to shopping trips with Courtney and numerous projects with Jacob.  The old saying ‘if Mom says no, ask Grandma’ could not be truer for Kathy, she spoiled those two and took so much joy in doing so. In addition to her grandchildren, Kathy looked forward to all family events where she was able to gather with her family. 

Kathy died peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at the West Wind Village in Morris.  She was 65 years old.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Richard of Morris; three sons: Kyle Kill of Flower Mound, Texas, Christopher Carlson of Brookings, South Dakota, and Geoffrey (Sara) Carlson of Morris; two grandchildren: Courtney Decker of Northville, South Dakota, and Jacob Carlson of Morris; William (Joan) Kill III of Somerset, WI, Howard (Deb) Kill of Donnelly, Doug (Dawn) Kill Sr. of Morris, Lloyd (Cecilia) Kill of Morris, Debbie (John) Van Eps of Glenwood, Betty Kill (Friend: Frank Nelson) of Morris, and Patty Kill of Morris; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.  Kathy is preceded in death by her parents.