Oscar Theodore Carlson was born on August 23, 1919, in the farm home of his parents Carl and Helen (Bergerson) Carlson at Erskine, Minnesota, U.S.A. He was their second child, having an older brother, Clarence, then sister, Alice, and brother, Elmer. In April 1924, the family moved to the Fosston district in Saskatchewan, Canada. They went by train to Kelvington, SK, with all their furniture and belongings. Friends met them and took them to their farm 12 miles west. The cattle had been brought up by train earlier and looked after by friends until they arrived. The family lived in a granary while their large log house was built.
Oscar attended Fosston Rural School about 3 miles from home for 2 years. A new school, Hopeful, was built one mile away, and Oscar attended there until 1934. That same year, he was confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church.
Sadly, their mother, Helen was diagnosed with cancer and died in August 1930. This had a huge impact on the whole family. Oscar stayed at home to help his father until April 1941 when he joined the army. He served with the Royal Canadian Engineers in England, northern Europe, and was in northern Germany when the war ended. He was discharged in Jan. 1946, and returned home to farm with his Dad and brother, Elmer. After his Dad passed away, Oscar moved to his own farm. In later years, he lived in a low-rental unit in Fosston, staying out at the farm in the summers as long as he could.
For many years, Oscar was the caretaker of Bethel Lutheran Church and cemetery, retiring only a few years ago from grass cutting duties. He was blessed with remarkably good health most of his life, and became known as the man walking up Hwy 35 in his reflector vest. Oscar was a private person with an active and inquiring mind. He was involved in Ducks Unlimited, Canadian and Saskatchewan Wildlife Federations, Fosston Curling Club, the Fosston Housing Authority, United Grain Growers, and a member of Elim Evangelical Free Church in Fosston. He was a Life Member of the Royal Canadian Legion.
In December, 2015, Oscar moved to Caleb Retirement Village in Tisdale, SK, where his brother, Elmer lives. He died in hospital after a short illness on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016. Oscar was predeceased by his parents Carl and Helen, his brother Clarence, and sister-in-law Florence and Jim’s partner Terry.
He is lovingly remembered by his sister Alice; brother Elmer; niece Carol (Steve) Lane; nephew Jim; nephew Dale (Glenda); and great nephews and nieces Liam Lane, Maia, Rhees, Leif, and Neysa Carlson; cousins in the United States; and a host of friends.

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