Carrol Olaf Lebacken

**You may view the prayer service by using this link: https://youtu.be/6Je5pQD7nIA

**You may view the funeral by using this link: https://youtu.be/vRy7A5lm7Hg

Carrol Olaf Lebacken, 98, passed away on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.

Carrol was born September 3, 1922, on the family farm in Reynolds, ND, the son of Olaf & Gunda (Tweten) Lebacken. He grew up and attended school at Rural Americas #23, which was a one room school house.

He married the love of life, Isabel (Gulson) on October 25th, 1952. Isabel's passing 10 months ago made for a broken heart that is now repaired as they are together again in heaven.

Carrol worked on the family farm at a young age, later working for neighbors who engaged in farming. He started farming on his own working together with his uncle, Glenn Lebacken. His early years of farming activities started behind horse drawn equipment and progressed to a huge 4-wheel drive tractor that steered itself with a cell phone in his pocket! He also started trucking commercially, starting with livestock, gravel, commodities, and water. Lebacken Trucking also offered over the road trucking with his first semi-trailer in 1964 and continued until 2019. His wife, Isabel, was a valued partner and a very important part of the farm and trucking businesses.

He was active in his community and served on the boards of the Americus Twsp, the Thompson Oil Co., the Thompson Fire Dept. and the Red River Valley Potato Growers Assoc. He was also a longtime Deacon at St. Olaf Lutheran Church.

Carrol’s life revolved around his family, farming and trucking. He was a man of few hobbies for his work was his hobby and passion. He did enjoy snowmobiling and was a member of the Buxton Snowmobile Club. He also enjoyed the watercraft the family purchased, and his smile was evident as he jumped his own wake speeding along the water. Although he did catch a fish once, driving the boat was more his style. In later years Carrol and Isabel enjoyed UND basketball games together.

Carrol was a man with much pride while being one with much humility. His dignity mattered, a man of great will and determination, yet his heart could be softened for another's misfortune or trials at a moment's notice. Love was an action verb. Talk less, do more was his philosophy. His faith was without boast or fanfare, rooted deep and was guided by his Norwegian / Lutheran upbringing. He had a great reverence for his church and the Good Lord, that his family and friends desired to immulate. He always wanted to be “right” with people and while he was a quiet wonder, doing things for others without wanting a word to be mentioned about it, his word was as good as gold.

Carrol was a very traditional man yet open to new ideas and thoughts, as he loved to listen and process what he heard. Up until his passing his mind was as sharp as a tack. He still was farming with his son, even if it was on the phone, from his living room. He found great joy driving out to the farm or calling to check and see what was going on there. He was loved by his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. May his legacy continue through all of us. Well done, good and faithful servant.

Carrol is survived by a son, Bob (Jackie) Lebacken; a daughter, Ruth (Robert) Turner, Grand Forks; grandchildren, Joey (Paula) Ricke, Tim Ricke, Adam Ricke, Kat Thompson, Andie Hanson, Alex Hanson, Anthony (Jakarta) Turner, Natalie (Jonathan) Walters, Sarah (Alex) Conover; great-grandchildren, Taylor Jo Ricke, August Turner, and Clarence Walters.

He was preceded in death by his wife of over 67 years, Isabel; his parents, his sister, a nephew and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

**In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Special Olympics or the Santa Claus Girls.

**Covid 19 precautions will be required, including social distancing and masks.

Visitation: Friday, March 12 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Amundson Funeral Home. Visitation will continue the hour prior to the service in the church.

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 13, Reynolds Lutheran Church in Reynolds, ND.

Interment: Americus Cemetery, Reynolds, ND, directly following the funeral.

All are invited to the Lebacken farm after the burial to enjoy memories and lunch.