James Carlson Jr

James R. Carlson Jr., 64, of Crookston, MN, died Monday morning, August 18, 2014, at the Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. Jim was born at Miles City, MT on June 1, 1950, the son of James and Nora (Hartse) Carlson Sr. He grew up in Miles City and graduated from Custer County High School. He attended St. Johns University in Minnesota where he received his degree in Political Science. Jim then attended the University of Montana Law School where he received his law degree, with honors. While attending law school, Jim married Diana Wells, his high school sweetheart, also of Miles City on February 2, 1974. Following completion of Law School, Jim and Diana moved to Helena, MT where Jim clerked for the Montana Supreme Court before opening a private practice in Miles City. Jim served as the County Attorney in Hysham, MT. Jim started a second career after attending Catholic University of America in Washington, DC where he received a Masters Degree in Library Science. He was a librarian at the University of Idaho Law School while Diana worked on her doctorate in Mathematics at Washington State University. Upon Diana's graduation, they moved to Grand Forks, ND where Diana taught at the University of North Dakota and Jim worked in the library system. Sadly, Diana passed away on December 27, 2007. Jim moved to Crookston a year later and was a librarian for the University of Minnesota Crookston until his death. An issue of the Idaho Law Review was dedicated to Jim for his accomplishments in 1992. The dedication sums up what many students and faculty saw when they interacted with him in the library: "an infinite cheerfulness and a genuine zest for intellectual challenges". He had a genuine love of research and learning that was infectious. The educational setting was natural to Jim where he could help others with their investigations, work with students of all ages, and keep himself and the library abreast of all the newest technology. Because of his exceptional work with faculty, staff, and students at UMC, in 2009, Jim was awarded the Distinguished Professional and Administrative Award and was later featured in the student paper. His love of technology, students, information and learning showed through. Anyone who met Jim, was also introduced to his sense of humor. He had a way of cheering everyone up and making their day better. He will be greatly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Jim is preceded in death by his wife, Diana, his mother Nora (Pat) Hartse Carlson, his father James R Carlson Sr, his brother Michael Carlson, and his sister Laurie Carlson Trusty. He is survived by his nephew Paul Trusty and niece Jennifer (Tug) Trusty, his siblings Mary Rieley and sons Michael and Patrick of Helena MT, Amy (Jim) Strecker of Billings, MT, John (Judi) Carlson and their children Christopher, Kaili, and Markus of Kennewick WA, David (Nancy) Carlson and daughter Ellen, of Billings, MT, Kathleen "Kitty" (Tim) Carlson of Elk River, Minnesota, Joan (Doug) Hatch and children Nathan, Emily, Sarah and Kelli of Fort Collins, CO and Charles "Charlie" (Beth) of Billings, MT, and his aunt Sister David and uncle Walter Carlson.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Jim Carlson will be held at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 23, 2014, with Deacon Dennis Bivens, presiding. A time for greeting his family will be for one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be in the Saint John's Abbey Cemetery at Collegeville, MN. Blessed be the memory of James R. Carlson Jr. Online registry: www.stenshoelhouske.com

Funeral Home: Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home 615 South Minnesota Street Crookston, MN US 56716

---

Previous Events

cemetery
Friday, August 1, 2014
Service
Saturday, August 23, 2014