Herbert Gustave Carlson

1925 - 2025

Nampa - Herb Carlson was born in Wallace, Idaho on January 20, 1925. His parents were Axel Ludwig Carlson from Sweden and Edith Moser Carlson from Montana. Herb was the oldest of three children. His two brothers were Vern and Roy.

A month after graduating high school Herb was inducted into the military to serve during World War II. He became a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corp flying B-25 Mitchell bombers. Herb was released with honors from the Army when the war in Europe ended. From there he enrolled into the University of Idaho.

Herb used to tell the story of receiving boxing gloves as a Christmas gift at age 6. His love of boxing stayed with him until completing his education at the University of Idaho in 1950. During his boxing years at the University Herb won four Pacific Coast championships, three NCAA championships and finished in second place in other NCAA finals. He was awarded the John LaRowe trophy as the best boxer in the nation after winning the national title in his Senior year. He is honored for his boxing accomplishments as a member of the University of Idaho Hall of Fame. After his university years Herb went on to referee college boxing matches around the county.

After completing his university studies and earning a Business Degree, Herb married Gayle Slavin. They had three sons: Doug, Scott, and Kent. Herb loved his boys and included them in many of his hunting, fishing and camping adventures in their youth. Herb's marriage to Gayle ended in 1972.

In 1975 Herb met and married Paricia Byrne Leriget and they were able to celebrate fifty years of a delightful marriage. Upon this union Herb became the stepfather of Pat's children: Julie Leriget and Steven (aka Pete) Leriget. The combined family enjoyed being around water and together did many activities including freshwater and ocean fishing along with jet boating the Snake and Salmon Rivers.

Herb owned and operated Herb Carlson Sport Shop in downtown Nampa from 1951 to 1992. He always enjoyed the interactions with his customers and missed them greatly after he closed his shop.

Herb was active for many years throughout the community involving himself with Parks and Recreation, various Rodeos, the American Legion, the Elks Club, the Salvation Army, Broadmore Country Club and in the construction of the Centennial Golf course.

Herb was an avid golfer. His friend Lenny Stroup teamed up to win several Pro-Am tournaments in the Northwest. As Herb got older, he spent more and more of his free time on various golf courses chasing that elusive "hole in one." Unfortunately, it never happened but he enjoyed the chase. Other additions to his later years were his weekly men's coffee group and his morning walks in the park with neighbor friend Max Swindell along with each other's dogs.

Herb was preceded in death by two of his sons Kent and Doug. He is survived by his wife Pat, son Scott, two stepchildren-Julie Leriget and Pete Leriget, along with four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

There will be two separate services held on Monday, October 6, 2025. At 10:00 AM, an interment service will be held at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, 10100 N Horseshoe Bend Rd, Boise, Idaho, 83714. At 2:00 PM a Celebration of Life will be held at the First United Presbyterian Church on 400 Lake Lowell Ave., Nampa, Idaho.

Requesting no flowers, donations in his memory to the University of Idaho Athletic Department is appreciated.

University of Idaho

Attn: Athletics Department

875 Perimeter Drive, MS 3143

Moscow, Idaho 83844-3143