Elisabeth Carlson

ELISABETH LOUISE 'LIZ' CARLSON, 87 SAN MARCOS, Calif. - Elisabeth Louise "Liz" Carlson, 87, of San Marcos, formerly of Rockford, Ill., died Monday, June 21, 2010, in Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. Born March 29, 1923, in Rockford, the daughter of Hilding R. and Florence (Stretti) Anderson. Liz attended Rockford Central High School and was a member of the first graduating class of East High School in 1941, before going on to study at Beloit College. Her father, Hilding, immigrated from Sweden with his two brothers, Hjalmar and Carl, in the early part of the 20th century, and together they founded the Security Building Co. which built many of the historic buildings of early Rockford, among them the Rockford News Tower, First National Bank Building, the Talcott Building, Roosevelt Junior High, and the gothic Emmanuel Lutheran Church, which was completed the year of Liz's birthday. In 1946 Liz married her high school sweetheart, Lt. Wes Carlson, who had returned from Army duty in France and Germany. After moving to Washington, D.C., they were transferred to Godthaab, Greenland, where Wes served as American vice consul for two years. An article in a July 1948 issue of the Saturday Evening Post magazine described Liz as the lady who maintained the northernmost American home in the world at the American Consulate. They served an additional three years in the American Legation at Bern, Switzerland, before settling in Southern California in the mid-1950s. Liz had a distinguished 28-year career with Merrill Lynch's Hollywood office, and Wes was an agent for property, managing the home services for many in the film industry. After 30 years, they retired to San Diego's north county close to their godson, Dana Smith, and family. Survived by husband, Wes; and loving cousins in Rockford, Sweden and Germany. Predeceased by parents. Graveside service at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 29, in Scandinavian Cemetery, 1700 Rural Road, with Sandi Olson-Decker officiating. Visitation from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, before the graveside service, in Olson Funeral & Cremation Services Ltd., Fred C. Olson Chapel, 1001 Second Ave. Memorials may be made to the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, 4650 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027, or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123. To send a condolence visit olson fh.com.