63835_Herbert Erick “Mike”_Charlson

ST. ANSGAR | Herbert Elrick “Mike” Charlson, 92, of St. Ansgar, died Monday, Jan.13, 2014, at Good Shepherd Health Center, Mason City.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, at First Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar, with the Rev. W. Paul Weeg and the Rev. Kent Mechler, Good Shepherd Chaplain, officiating. Burial will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery, St. Ansgar. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Schroeder and Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Mike was born in rural Randall, Iowa, on Feb. 12, 1921, to Oscar and Maggie (Burke) Charlson. He was baptized and confirmed at Elim Lutheran Church in Randall and graduated from Randall High School. He married Capitola “Cappie” Hyland on Aug. 15, 1941, at the Hyland family farm.

Mike spent his entire working life farming, first in the Radcliffe area, then moving to Mitchell County in 1952. In 1986, he and Cappie retired from the farm and moved to St. Ansgar.

Mike and Cappie worked together all their farming years as well as in their retirement. They were very active in the First Lutheran Church. Mike enjoyed woodworking and carpentry, with Cappie assisting. Together, each year they made hundreds of lefse for the church bizarre and for sharing. They especially enjoyed fishing trips with friends and family.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 65 years, Cappie, in 2007; five brothers; one sister; four brothers-in-law; five sisters-in-law.

He is survived by a daughter, Mary (Ken) Swenson of Osage, Iowa; one son, Dennis (Colleen) Charlson of Mason City, Iowa; three grandsons, Burke (Tatum) Swenson and great-grandchildren Keeley, Baylor, Reegan and Ian of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Aaron Charlson of Mason City; and Tanner (Ashley) Swenson and great-grandchildren Lliam and Emmary of Le Mars, Iowa; one sister, Sylvia Doolittle of Story City, Iowa; sisters-in-law Ruth Charlson of Eldon, Mo., and Mary Charlson of Gresham, Ore., brother and sister-in-law, Leo and Joanie Hyland of Grand Junction, Colo., many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Schroeder and Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, Iowa; 641-713-4920; www.schroederandsites.com

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