Eleanor Blodgett Carlson, 97

Eleanor Blodgett Carlson was born May 19, 1921, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Harvey P. and Fay B. Blodgett, and passed away of natural causes in Richland, Washington, on Feb. 11, 2019.

When 12 years old, Eleanor and her family moved to a dairy farm in Erhard, Minnesota. She graduated from Pelican Rapids High School. After attending secretarial school in Minneapolis, and at the age of 23, she joined the war effort, becoming a supervisor of 38 employees as an aluminum welder for Northwest Airlines. Here she met design engineer William Louis Carlson Jr. They were married June 9, 1945. Bill and Eleanor raised three children while living in Minneapolis, Bloomington and St. Cloud, Minnesota. They were members of Unity Church, St. Paul and UUA of St. Cloud.

Eleanor was involved in the League of Women Voters, volunteered in the American Red Cross for over 15 years and as a volunteer at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, Kalispell, with over 1,100 hours of volunteer time. She loved to quilt, belonging to the Flathead Quilt Guild in Kalispell.

Eleanor is remembered for her infectious and continuous smile and as a generous caregiver. Fun memories include her love of chocolate, her bling and her gold walking shoes.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband William on Jan. 29, 1989, and her son William on April 17, 2014.

She is survived by her daughters Chris Carlson of Kalispell, and Connie Carlson Nolin (Rod Nolin) of the Tri-Cities, Washington; five grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial services for Eleanor will be held in Minnesota at a future date.

Memorials in Eleanor’s honor may be sent to the American Heart Association or Stand Up to Cancer.