Geraldine Carlson

Geraldine “Gerry” Corinne (Palmer) Carlson was born on November 1, 1930 in Alexandria, the eldest child of Roy A. and Cora (Bergner) Palmer. She attended various schools but graduated from Alexandria High School in 1948 with honors.

In late 1950, Gerry lived/worked briefly in California, then returned to Minnesota and then moved to Cedar Rapids, IA, in early 1951. It was in Cedar Rapids that she reconnected with the love of her life, Chuck who she had met in Alexandria when both were 15 years old.

On Mother’s Day 1951 they got engaged, and in September 1951, Gerry married Charles “Chuck” Ellsworth Carlson. She quit working within a few months after their marriage and from that time on, focused her efforts primarily on raising their four children in Fridley.

The couple in 1978 bought and operated Kaldahl’s Resort in Glenwood. They sold the resort in 1990 and moved to Coon Rapids; in 1996 they retired and moved to Lake Moses. In 2012, Gerry and Chuck moved to Alexandria into their new home.

Gerry always had a passion for art. She was an accomplished painter with natural talent in the decorative Norwegian folk-art of “Rosemaling.” She was also a self-taught genealogist and researched/documented in depth all sides of her and Chuck’s family trees while she volunteered at the Douglas County Historical Society and assisted others too. She also volunteered at the Someplace Safe Thrift Store in Alexandria.

Gerry died on February 10, 2020 at the age of 89, at Bethany on the Lake in Alexandria. She is survived by Chuck, her husband of 68 years; children and their spouses Regan (Jeff), Laura (Bill), Julie (Danny), and Steven (Theresa) Carlson; five grandchildren: Gina, Tyler, Brett, Colin and Clayton; four great-grandsons: William, Jonathan, Keenan and Ethan; brothers Dale (Carol) Palmer, Donald (Dorothy) Palmer and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of life will be held July 23, 2021 @11am (visitation starts at 10am) at the Anderson Funeral Home.