Obituary of Siri Marie Carlson

SIRI MARIE CARLSON Siri Marie Carlson, 99, died Thursday, May 19, 2011, at the Auburn Ravine Terrace in Auburn, California. She was formerly of Jamestown. She was the wife of Lennart Carlson, who preceded her in death in 1998. Together they served as Salvation Army Officers with the rank of Brigadier at the Jamestown Temple Corps. She was born October 10, 1911, in Risinge, Ostergotland, Sweden, the oldest of five children of Karl Albin and Maria Ehrlin Larsson. Her grandfather, Adolf Larsson, was a well-know evangelist in the Mission (Evangelical Covenant) Church in Sweden. She immigrated with her family to the United States in 1924, settling in Montclair, New Jersey. Siri was a 1937 graduate of The Salvation Army Training College in New York City. She was commissioned as a Salvation Army Officer and served in Providence, RI, Worcester, MA, Bridgeport, CN, Erie, PA, and Montclair, NJ. She married Lennart Carlson on June 17, 1950. Together they served at The Salvation Army in Jamestown from 1950 to 1952. They were then appointed to Worcester MA. In 1958, they returned to Jamestown to begin a 20-year period as officers at the Temple Corps. They retired in 1978, and setlled in Jamestown. In retirement, Siri remained active in service through The Salvation Army. She was especially involved in the ministry to the Swedish community. She was responsible for The Salvation Army's weekly Swedish radio program "Nar Morgonen Kommer." In 1996, The Carlsons were honored for 40 years of this ministry by a citation from Jamestown Mayor Richard Kimball as well as County Executive Andrew Goodell. She was a gifted speaker in both Swedish and English. In 1997, she received the Award of Merit from Jamestown Community College's Scandinavian Studies Program She also participated in The Salvation Army's Home League and other activities. Siri has said that her most rewarding work was with children and young adults. Many remember her exciting story-telling at Vacation Bible Schools. In 1999, Siri moved to California and lived at the Auburn Ravine Terrace Retirement Community. In retirement, her interests included reading, watching baseball and football games, travel and visits from her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She attended The Salvation Army in Auburn. She is survived by daughter, Elsa Cisar, Rocklin CA; son, Wesley Carlson, Orlando FL; grandchildren, Katelyn and Steven Carlson, Orlando FL; stepgrandchildren, Harry (Sophia) Cisar, Albuquerque NM, and Carol (Clark) Beard, Valley Center, CA; step-great-grandchildren, Harrison, Emma, Linnea, and Jane Cisar and Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, and Joshua Beard. A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Lind Funeral Home on Friday, May 27 at 1 pm. Major Leslie Walter of Erie PA will officiate. Friends will be received one hour prior to the service. A reception will be held following the service in Carlson Hall at The Salvation Army, 83 South Main Street, Jamestown. Memorials may be made to The Salvation Army Jamestown Temple Corps Memorial Fund.