Douglas Ronald Carlson

Douglas Ronald "Doug" Carlson, 77, of New London, died Monday, November 11th in his home. His memorial service will be at 2:00 pm, Saturday, November 16 at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar. Visitation will be one hour prior to his service. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Willmar. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Wilmar. www.hafh.org  

Doug was born October 7, 1942, in Willmar, MN, son to Reuben Carlson, and Rose and Denny Deinken. Doug graduated from Willmar High School in 1960, where he was active in baseball, basketball, and football, playing quarterback for the Willmar Cardinals. On January 31, 1960, Doug was united in marriage to Jacquelyn “Jacky” M. Carlson. They lived in Willmar where they raised four children, and in 1979, moved to their farm near New London. Doug was married 59 years to Jacky, and they were always seen together.

Doug’s love for cars led him to become the owner of Doug’s DX Gas station in Willmar, and later, an automotive mechanic at Nolan Baker Ford of Kerkhoven for 35 years where he was known as “Big-Doug”. He was a hard worker. If it had an engine, he could fix it, and if it was a stock car, he could make it go fast. Many remember Doug as the owner of a stock car named “15 Jr.” He raced for years, taking home many trophies including a few from the MN State Fair. In later years, Doug was inducted into the Willmar Racing Hall of Fame, and, on any given Sunday, he would be watching NASCAR.

Doug loved everything “Western”, from game hunting trips out West, to running a cattle ranch, to listening to Johnny Cash, to watching John Wayne movies. One year, he was awarded a trip to Switzerland by Ford Motor Company, and while there, was mistaken as Hoss Cartwright of Bonanza and almost signed an autograph. Doug was known for that great sense of humor, telling a joke, giving you a nick-name, answering the telephone “Yell-ow”, or making you laugh. He will always be remembered as “Grandpa Farm” to family, and he had a heart of gold.  He would give you the shirt off his back, if it meant you had a better one.

Surviving are his daughters: Mindy (and Tim) Hardy of Willmar; Debora Gunderson of Willmar; Jodi Carlson of New London and Connie Carlson of Chaska; seven grandchildren: Nathan (Beth), Katie (Josh) Rachel, Samantha (Alex), Jacob, Benjamin, and Christopher; four great grandchildren: Rebekah, Abigail, Mason and Whiley, and siblings DeVonna Boline of Surprise, AZ, Darrell Carlson of Forest Lake, MN, Cathi Capelli, of Heathsville, VA, and step-father Denny Deinken, of Sun City, AZ.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jacky Carlson and parents, Reuben Carlson, and Rose Deinken.

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