Betty Carlson

October 25, 2015...The sun set on a perfect day as the angels called Betty Lou Carlson to join her beloved husband Raymond, and their two hearts were reunited in heaven.

Visitation for Betty will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, October 29, 2015, in The Ark at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1001 9th Street, Orion. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, October 30, 2015, at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at the Lutheran Cemetery in Orion. Memorials may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church Organ Fund or to the Calvary Lutheran Church Memorial Fund. Kirk, Huggins and Esterdahl Funeral Home, Ltd., Orion, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Betty was born December 19, 1928, at her parent's rural home west of Orion, IL, the daughter of Harry R. and Florance H. Love Erickson. She married Raymond C. Carlson on May 20, 1951, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Orion. Betty and Ray were destined to be together. They shared the same birthday, were delivered by the same doctor an hour apart, and grew up just 2 miles from each other. Ray passed away October 26, 2014, almost a year to the day before Betty.

Betty was a graduate of Orion High School and Augustana Pediatric School of Nursing in Chicago, IL, where she also worked as a nurse's aide. She then worked at Augustana Book Concern in Rock Island, IL and Lutheran Hospital, Moline, IL.

She was a secretary at Butterworth Elementary School in Moline, IL for many years, where she was a past member of the PTA and honored with a PTA Life Membership Award. She was also employed at Short Hills Country Club in East Moline, IL.

Betty was a past member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Moline, where she served as Youth Counselor, Sunday School Teacher, Church Choir member, and on many committees planning celebration events. More recently, Betty was a member of WELCA and worshiped at St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she was a choir member. In her early years, she taught Sunday school there as well. She organized the first annual Christmas Cookie Walk and was a member of the Guardian Angel Program.

A party, reunion, or family gathering planned by Betty almost always involved the unexpected. She surprised family and friends as Mrs. Santa Claus as well as visiting nursing homes at Christmas. She loved flowers and decorating her home for the changing seasons.

More than anything, Betty was a devoted and loving wife and mother. She loved her Church, Faith, and the sustaining presence of the Triune God throughout her life. She was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren's successes and very much loved watching the great grandchildren grow and learn.

Survivors include her children, Cherie (Craig) Peterson, Rapids City, IL, Daniel (Lili) Carlson, Port Byron, IL, and Randall (Linda) Carlson, Erie, CO; grandchildren and great grandchildren, Patricia (Barry) Nord and their children, Emma & Dylan, Jenni (Tom) Wallaert and their children, Kenley and Weston, Casey (Tanya) Peterson and their son, Corey, Jeremy Hirst and his son, Jackson, Jessica Hirst, Jeffery Hirst and his children, Brandon, Brianna and Kelsey, Rod (Jodie) Hulslander and their son, Wyatt, Jay Hulslander, Ann (Randy) Dishong and their children, Taylin and Kinsley, Tessa Carlson, and Traci Carlson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; loving husband of 63 years, Ray; sister, Bernice Anderson; brothers, Virgil Erickson and Eugene Erickson.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.