Meri Carlstedt

Meri Patience Carlstedt passed away December 27, 2012 in a local hospital. She was born in Detroit Lakes, MN on June 14, 1936; she was the 10th and last child of Reverend P.G. and Florence Carlstedt. Her father was a Lutheran pastor. When she was 7 the family moved to Vilas, KS and when she was thirteen her father retired to Finlayson, MN. She received a brain injury when she was 16 resulting in paralysis of her right leg and arm and impediments in her speech and perception. In spite of this she graduated from Oak Grove (Lutheran) High School in Moorhead, MN, received a B.A. degree from Westminster College in Salt Lake City and an M.A. degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She worked for many years as a vocational rehabilitation counselor in Scottsbluff, NB and Torrington and Rock Springs, WY before retiring in Santa Rosa, CA in 1988 and moving to Cleveland in 2001. Meri was always very independent and was more concerned with other people?s handicaps than her own, always involved in volunteer activities and helping others in any way she could. She was always a very cheerful person. She is survived by a son, Dr. Mark Geary, Dakota State University, Colton, SD and his wife, Christina; grandchildren: Jacob, Jack and Erin; sisters, Alice Nelson of Lindsborg, KS, Grace Kintner of Fosston, MN and Rhoda Carlstedt of Kissimmee, FL; brothers, Dave Carlstedt of Cedar Rapids, IA and Jim Carlstedt of Santa Monica, CA. A memorial service will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at Broad Street United Methodist Church with Pastor William White officiating. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Carlstedt family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner,com Ralph Buckner Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.