Herbert Carlson

Herbert "Herb" Carlson, 83 of Wahpeton, ND, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Visitation will be on Monday, June 16, 2025, from 5-7 pm with a time of sharing at 6:45 pm. His funeral service will be on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 1 pm, with visitation one hour before the service, all at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home in Wahpeton. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Wahpeton where military honors will take place.

Herbert Emil Carlson was born March 14, 1942, near Lake Park MN, to Isabelle (Ruth) Lewis Carlson and Emil Carlson. The family moved to Willmar, MN, in 1944, where he grew up as the middle child of 4 beloved sisters.

He left formal education early to join the Navy in December 1959 at age 17. He served as a Gunners Mate and sailed on the USS Des Moines (Heavy Cruiser) and was part of the first crew of the USS Constellation (Aircraft Carrier). He was transferred from active duty to Naval Reserve February 20, 1963, and achieved Honorable Discharge December 29, 1965.

He met his future bride, Diane Hinrichs, through a mutual friend who introduced them in Eden Valley, MN. On February 27, 1965, they were united in marriage at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Lidgerwood. They made their family home in Wahpeton, ND, where they raised their two children. Herb was baptized as an adult at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wahpeton.

Herb made his living working construction with a specialty in Heavy Equipment Operation. He later switched employment to the Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative, running the loader at the beet piles. He also frequently helped at his in-laws’ farm near Lidgerwood, ND.

Herb had a sparkling personality and a zest for life. Always looking to help someone out, make someone smile, or get the laugh with his mischievous nature (just like his own dad). Herb made a friend of everyone he met. He was very proud of his family and often pondered how he had anything to do with making us the people we have become and always giving most of the credit to Diane. His other “family” included several close hunting and fishing buddies, and of course his beloved dogs and grand dogs. Rainbow bridge in Heaven may have collapsed from the stampede of mostly Brittany’s, with a spattering of Labs, “Mutts,” German Shepherds, and even a chihuahua when he arrived.

Diane and Herb were truly two halves of a whole, with her doing the coordinating, paperwork, and detail management, and Herb bringing home the bacon (figuratively and literally—he had daily bacon and eggs) and doing most of the talking. Later in life, he took on the role of errand runner, comic relief and caretaker when Diane’s health failed. They were quiet, humble heroes to each other, and their marriage lasted 58 years until her death on February 1, 2024.

Herb will be sorely missed by surviving family members: son Allen Carlson; and daughter Angie (Scott) Rortvedt. Grandchildren: David (Katarina) Carlson, Brianna (Kyle) Swanson, and Carley Rortvedt (fiancée Bennett Rindy). Great Grandchildren: Tristen Carlson, Ava Carlson, Charles Herbert Carlson, Eliza Swanson, and Willard Swanson. Sister Gwen (Cliff) May. Brother-in-law Rick (Barb) Hinrichs. Several cousins, aunts, nieces and nephews. And Rosie, his dog. He was preceded in death by his wife Diane, parents Emil and Ruth, 3 sisters (Elizabeth, Jeanette, and Jane), and parents-in-law Bette and Bernard.