Rachel Carlson

Rachel Carlson, 76 of Battle Lake died Thursday, April 5, 2018, at the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Center.

Rachel Claire Carlson was born on December 14, 1941, in Veblen, South Dakota the daughter of Oscar and Julia (Stenson) Jensvold.  She was baptized and confirmed in Bergen Lutheran Church of rural Lidgerwood, North Dakota.  Rachel graduated from Veblen High School in 1959, then continued her education at Concordia College in Business Education, graduating in 1963.

Rachel and Duane M. Carlson were married on September 15, 1962, in Bergen Lutheran Church.  After living in Hallock for two years, they moved to Cottage Grove where Rachel taught business education at Park and Woodbury Senior High. In 1980, they built their lakehome on Eagle Lake, where they spent many weekends and vacations, eventually retiring there.  In 1999, they sold their home and moved to Battle Lake where they lived together until Duane's passing in 2013. For the last three years she lived in Alexandria with her friend Bob Pendergrass.

At Zion Lutheran Church, Cottage Grove, Rachel was very active with the Sunday School and youth programs. She served as church secretary and was involved in WELCA, Stephen's Ministries, and Global Missions at Eagle Lake Lutheran Church, Battle Lake. Additionally, she was a part of the initiation of the Battle Lake Food Shelf and the backpack program. Rachel enjoyed her travels to Botswana, Poland, Ukraine, Norway and Amsterdam. Rachel also enjoyed attending her grandchildren's school and church events, especially piano recitals and the first dress rehearsal of every school musical.

She is survived by children/grandchildren, Tim and Tammy, Emily, Elise and Eli; Dan and Beth, Ashley, Megan, Braden and Christian all of Battle Lake; brother Charles and Gothe Jensvold; in-laws Kevin and Lorna Carlson, Lowell and Pam Carlson, and Eva Carlson; and by numerous nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.  Rachel was preceded in death by her parents Oscar and Julia Jensvold, husband Duane, and brother in-law Jerry Carlson.

Funeral Service: 11 AM, Monday, April 9, 2018, at Eagle Lake Lutheran Church of rural Battle Lake.

Visitation: Sunday from 5 to 7 PM, with a Prayer Service at 6:30 PM, at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Clergy: Rev. Ali Haugerud

Interment: Eagle Lake Lutheran Cemetery

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson of Battle Lake

Condolences:GlendeNilson.Com

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