Erna CARLSON
September 29, 1934 – April 7, 2014
Erna was born in Watrous, Saskatchewan the second child of Aaron and Barbara Martens. She lived on the family homestead and travelled by horse to and from school at Xena. After grade 8 Erna went to school in Watrous with her sisters Sarah and Elsie, boarding in town on weekdays and returning to the family farm to spend time with brother Ed and little Bonnie on weekends and holidays. Erna was a switchboard operator with Saskatchewan Telephones before marrying Bill Carlson in 1955. Erna and Bill moved to Melville in 1965 where they raised their children, Joanne, Keith and Rodney. Erna maintained a huge garden that sustained the family of five year-round. Once the children had grown she worked as a care aid at the Lutheran Home. After Bill died in 1990, Erna moved to Summerland where she soon became involved with the Seniors’ Centre and filled her days with volunteer work. She took a round-the-world-tour in 1993 and treated her seven grandchildren to a week in Disney World in 1999. Erna will be remembered as a keen card player, an avid walker and generous friend.
Thank you to Dr. Bannerman and the staff at Kelly Care and the Summerland Seniors’ Village for the exceptional care extended to Erna as she lived her final years with Lewy Body Disease.
Graveside service will be held in Watrous, Saskatchewan in June where Erna will rest forever beside Bill.