Harold S. Carlson

Harold Stanley Carlson, a beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, went to be with his Lord on September 5, 2024 due to complications from appendicitis, just 2 days shy of his 102nd birthday. He was born on September 7, 1922 to Hjalmar and Ellen (Erickson) Carlson at the New Sweden farmstead, the youngest of 4 children.

Harold attended grade school at the New Sweden School and graduated with honors from Idaho Falls High School in 1940.

He was deferred from World War II for a time to help his ailing father on the family farm. He attended business school briefly and then joined the US Army in 1944. He received basic training at Camp Roberts in California prior to being sent to the Philippines where he was assigned to a cannon company training for the invasion of Japan. At the closure of the war he was assigned to the 8th Army Headquarters in Yokohama, Japan until his honorable discharge on November 12, 1946. He then returned to the New Sweden area where he operated the family farm. During this time he pursued electronic studies, and when time permitted did radio and TV repair. Harold was an excellent, hardworking farmer and farmed until he turned 88 in 2010.

In the summer of 1959, he met the love of his life, Rita Roth, a Nebraska native who had just recently graduated from nursing school. They were married on December 29, 1959 and lived and worked together for over 63 years on the family farm. A highlight of their lives was on July 2, 2012 when the Carlson Farm was designated an Idaho Century Farm by the State of Idaho Historical Society noting the family farm, established in 1903, had been owned and operated by the same family for over 100 years.

It was during Harold’s junior year in high school that the received Christ as his personal Savior and began his spiritual journey in life. For many years he was a member and served at Eagle Rock Baptist Church. A favorite bible verse has been Hebrews 2:8-9: “But now we do not yet see all things put under him, but we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

Harold’s interests throughout his life included sports, reading, electronics, photography, and model trains. He loved visiting with cousins, family, and friends. He was a man of faith, wisdom and kindness, gentleness and patience. We thank the Lord for the many years Harold was a part of so many lives.

He is survived by two daughters, Holly Carlson (Boise, ID) and Heidi B. Carlson (Brent Vermeer, Phoenix, AZ), a granddaughter Sara Rankin (Boise, ID) and great-granddaughter Zoe Rankin (Boise, ID). He was preceded in death by his wife Rita Carlson, sister Viola Russell (Roberts, ID), brother Bertal Carlson (Idaho Falls, ID), and sister Inez Roth (Idaho Falls, ID).

Funeral services will be held at Buck Murphy Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 11:00 am. Burial to follow at the New Sweden Cemetery.

Special thanks to the wonderful people that were such a part of Harold’s life including Jim and Penny Dixon, Reed and Joyce Carlson, Dave and Debbie Erickson. We also want to thank the doctors and nursing staff at EIRMC for their kind and gentle care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Veteran’s Mobility Corp., 10884 N. Yellowstone Hwy, Idaho Falls, ID 83401, www.vetschair.com. The scooter provided by this organization made Harold’s access to his beloved farm and garden area possible and we are forever grateful to them.