Margaret Carlson

It is with great sadness we share the passing of Margaret Jean Carlson on Wednesday July 8, 2015 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks at the age of 102 years. Marinka "Margaret" Zaluski was born February 28, 1913 in a log home on a farm in Polson, Manitoba, Canada. One of eleven children born to her Ukrainian immigrant parents Phillip and Maria Zaluski, she always remembered her home district with fondness and returned many times over the course of her life to visit family and friends. Margaret left the farm at age 17 to find work in the big city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. There she met Arthur Watson, a mail carrier from Grand Forks, ND, who was visiting Winnipeg. They married three weeks later on June 1, 1931, and moved to Grand Forks where she became a US citizen. Margaret ran a "tourist home" from their residence in downtown Grand Forks, and hosted many different people over the years. In 1948 the couple attended a Billy Graham Crusade, where they went forward and accepted Jesus as their personal Savior, and became active in Christian ministry. The Watson's did a lot of travelling to many Christian Business Men`s Committee meetings and started the Grand Forks chapter of Youth for Christ from their home. Together they visited every State in the USA except for Alaska, and most provinces in Canada. The Watson's were married 40 years until the passing of Art on April 13, 1971. In 1975 Margaret met and married Bill Carlson, a retired farmer from Kennedy, MN. Together they spent many happy years traveling and wintering in Mesa, Arizona. On December 27, 1982 Bill passed away, but Margaret continued wintering in Arizona till age 98. Margaret was a member of the First Presbyterian Church since 1935, the Letter Carrier`s Auxiliary for women, Gideon's Auxillary, Misson Bells, and long time supporter of Billy Graham. She attended Faith Evangelical Free Church in her later years and was active in Prime Timers. Margaret loved entertaining in her home and held many dinner parties where she developed great skill in Bridge, Scrabble, and Skipbo games. She attended many weddings, anniversaries, birthdays for family and friends. Always a hard worker, she waged a war on dandelions until age 100, and always kept the yard in immaculate condition. Margaret was a "people person" who loved to walk up to a total stranger, start a conversation, and make a new friend. Left to mourn her loss are sisters Jean Kizlyk, Winnipeg, MB, Ethel and her husband Carl Rebeck, Winnipeg, MB; brother Mike Zaluski and his wife Virginia, Ajax, ON; and numerous nieces, nephews, stepchildren and grandchildren and friends. She was predeceased by her parents Phillip and Maria Zaluski; brothers Peter, Paul, Steve, Nick, and Bill; Sisters Anne and Nettie. Services to be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at 11:30 am with visitation starting at 11:00 am in Faith Evangelical Free Church, 1400 24th Ave South, Grand Forks. Interment will be at Memorial Park South Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND. In lieu of gifts, please direct donations to the Gideon's International, Grand Forks Youth for Christ, Northlands Rescue Mission, or the charity of your choice.