Betty Lou Carlson, 91, died peacefully on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, in Augustana Mercy Health Care Center, Moose Lake, MN, with family by her side.  She was born on June 28, 1927, in Worthington, MN, to Jesse and Beulah Rilea, the oldest of eleven children. Betty grew up in the Worthington area where she attended school through the eighth grade.  In the 1940's her family moved to the Blackhoof Twp. She worked at Nestor Johnson's store in Mahtowa where she met her future husband, Victor Carlson, whom she married on October 1, 1949, in Mahtowa. They lived in Mahtowa and later moved to Barnum Twp.  where they farmed and raised a family. Betty was an exceptional homemaker. She raised 5 kids while maintaining an immaculately clean house and massive vegetable garden. Betty showed her love to her family through many everyday actions. She always had something fresh from the oven when her kids came home from school.  Betty's care for children extended to the community as a 4-H leader for the Deer Park 4-H Club and a Sunday School teacher at Salem Lutheran Church where she attended for many years. Besides her vocation as a mother and caregiver, she also was self-employed as a seamstress and baker. Many people benefited from Betty's extraordinary talent with a sewing machine.  From mending to alterations to wedding dresses, her artistic abilities were evident. Her creativity extended to her kitchen from which her cake creations were in high demand for over 30 years. Betty still found time to enjoy many hobbies including doing embroidery, collecting dolls, participating in the Carlton County Fair (with many ribbons to show), and for 38 years writing the "Blackhoof/Sandy Lake News" for the Star-Gazette and Pine Knot .  Through everything she did, Betty valued community.  She and Vic loved to visit over coffee with neighbors.  She will also be remembered for her strength, her quiet but steadfast faith, her love for music, and her ability to keep her white pants clean.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Vic; her parents, Jesse and Beulah Rilea; four brothers: Harold, Donald (Les), Delwin, and Kenneth Rilea; and three sisters: Vera Rilea, Carole Rilea, and Becky Plummer.

Betty will be lovingly remembered by her five children: Wayne (Karen) Carlson of Cromwell; Myra (Greg) Class of Mahtowa; David Carlson of Barnum; Heidi (Paul) Appicelli of Winona; and Paul (Wes) Carlson of Lynchburg, VA; 3 siblings: Velma (Jim) Greeley, Vivian VanDerWerff, and Marvin (Eleanor) Rilea; 17 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; 1 great-great granddaughter; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She will also live on in the memories of her close friends: Pastor Phil, Willis and Kay, and the Ladies Group at the Barnum Methodist Church; her faithful visitors: Gene and Karen, and Joy and Minde (the only dog she loved); the compassionate caregivers at Augustana; and many friends.

Visitation will be from 1PM until the 2PM Funeral Service on Saturday, September 29, 2018, at the Barnum Community United Methodist Church, Barnum, MN.  Burial will be in the Mount Salem Cemetery, Mahtowa, following the Service.

Arrangements by Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake.