Harvey Carlson

Dr. Harvey Eric Monroe Carlson, age 94, of Sauk Centre, left us to play his clarinet for the angels Monday, May 13, 2019.

Visitation will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Thursday, May 16 at First Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre. Following is the funeral service at 10 a.m. with Rev. Becky Thomas. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery following the service.

Harvey was born in Royal, Iowa on April 7, 1925. He moved with his parents to Minnesota in 1940. Harvey played clarinet in the family band during the Great Depression, where his mother played banjo and his rhythm-challenged father played drums. Harvey graduated from Washburn High School in Minneapolis in 1943.

He served as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps from March 1945 to January 1946. He was a bombardier on B-29s during World War II. He was a prankster and a practical joker, so he had many great stories to tell about his military days. After the service, Harvey returned home to Minneapolis. “Doc” graduated from Northwestern Chiropractic College in March 1949.

He married Betty Jean Laing on October 15, 1949 at the Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Together, Harvey and Betty stated his practice, Main Street Chiropractic in 1949 in Sauk Centre. Their first child was born Julie Ann in 1954. Being born with Spina Bifida, she lived to the age of 1. Their second child, Eric Alan, was born in 1957, Carol Lynn was born in 1958, and Steven Edward was born in 1966.

Harvey was very active in the community and was a member of many organizations. He served as a Cub Scout Leader and spent many years active in the Boy Scouts. He was a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge, Star In The West Lodge 60 in Sauk Centre, serving as Master in 1957. He was also a member of the Zuhrah Shrine, Sauk Centre American Legion for over 70 years, and the Sauk Centre Lions Club for many years and served as the president in 1977 and 1978. Harvey and Betty were members of First Lutheran Church, where Harvey served as Chairman on the board. He was also part of various committees prior to and while building First Lutheran Church in 1954. He loved to sing in the church choir.

This full-blooded Swede loved people, music, and animals. He often told jokes to people in restaurants and bars, and anyone on the street was fair game. He was a hunter and a fishman. Harvey enjoyed tinkering with antique and classic cars and built the Lions Club purple and gold 1930 Model A Ford still in use today. Through the years he played saxophone and clarinet in a band and often times played with other musical friends for various occasions. Other hobbies of Harvey’s were dice games and card games with friends or the Bridge group.

After retiring in April 1985, Harvey and Betty spent their retirement years in Cave Creek, Arizona and Grand Junction, Colorado before moving back to Sauk Centre in 2004. Harvey helped many people over the span of his 36 years in business. He helped crack and pop clients physically, lightened their spirits with a joke or two and send them on their way kicking his heels in the air.

Survivors include his son, Eric (Donna) Carlson of Sauk Centre; daughter, Carol Griffith of Las Vegas, NV; and son, Steve (Dawn) Carlson of Cedar Rapids, IA; grandchildren, Brett Griffith of Las Vegas, NV; Tyler (Kate) Carlson and their daughter Madeleine Carlson of Sauk Centre; and Austin, Brance, and Cailynn Carlson of Sauk Centre.

Harvey was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Carlson; parents, Eric and Olga Carlson; and infant daughter, Julie Ann.

Serving as casket bearers will be sons, Eric and Steve Carlson, daughter, Carol Griffith, grandsons, Brett Griffith, Tyler Carlson, Austin Carlson, and Brance Carlson, and granddaughter, Cailynn Carlson.