Gerald Delmar Carlson was born May 14th 1925, in Lennox SD to Charles and Anna (Lundgren) Carlson, both of Swedish Ancestry. He died Friday, May 23, 2008 at the Bethesda Nursing Home in Beresford, SD at the age of 83 years. He was the youngest of one brother and four sisters. Gerald spent his childhood growing up on the farm north of Beresford. He attended Lincoln Center rural school and graduated from Canton High School in 1943. He enlisted in the Army National Guard and was stationed in Alaska. Gerald met Marjorie Ruth Long while in the service and they were married in Colorado Springs, CO in 1950. After the service, he farmed in SD and also for a brief time in Illinois. They returned back to the family farm where he and Ruth raised a family of three children. In 1980, Gerald and his son became partners in the farm until his retirement in 1989. He continued to play an active role in the farm for several years. Gerald enjoyed reading, golf, carpentry work and spending the winters in Arizona with friends and relatives. He was a member of the Beresford United Methodist Church where he served on various committees. In January of 2007, Gerald became a resident of Bethesda Nursing Home. He appreciated the dedicated care he received. He always had a warm cheerful smile and kind soft words. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, one brother, Vernon (Wilma) Carlson, two sisters, Dorothy (Phil) Hoel, and Violet (Harlan) Moen. Those grateful to have shared his life are his wife Marjorie Ruth, sisters Eva (Clifford) Vickerman of Tucson, Arizona and Fern (Milt) Dennis. His three children, Shirley (Roger) Mortensen) of Gillette, Wyoming, Steve (Helene) Carlson of Beresford, SD, and Mona (Pat) Murphy of Evergreen, Colorado, ten grandchildren, one great-grandchild and many nieces, nephews and friends. A memorial service is planned will be at a later date. Memorial services will be held at 11:00AM, Monday, June 30, 2008 at the Beresford Zion United Methoidst Church.