Memorial

Norman (Swede) Edward Carlson.
(1937-2018)

Norman Edward Carlson, “Swede”, 81, went home to be with his Lord August 2, 2018.  He had called Colorado Springs home since 1965 even while spending time in Greenland and Alaska.

Swede was born in Everett, Washington, spending his formative years in the mountain areas in and around the town of Index.  He attended the University of Washington, where he played trumpet in dance bands for extra money. He also worked as a logger in the summer to pay his tuition.  He never finished his Mathematics degree, needing to support his growing family, but he later attended Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, and there made friends among some professors which lasted throughout his life. Later in life, he was awarded an honorary bachelor’s degree in Bible from Trinity University.

Swede spent most of his career working for several defense contractors on Ballistic Early Warning Systems., which took him to Thule, Greenland, and Clear, Alaska, places that he loved dearly his entire life.

In his late twenties, he came to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and the focus of his life changed. He attended Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, OR. Afterwards, he became a part-time itinerant preacher for many small churches in the mountains and plains of Colorado.  His love of his Lord and of the Scriptures eventually led to starting The Colorado Free Bible College. He wrote over 30 books which are available on Amazon, or for free from this website. 
  
He loved the mountains; hiking, backpacking, and fishing often. He was an excellent fly fisherman, whose artistry with a rod is fondly remembered by his children. He and his family spent a lot of time at Mysterious Lake in the mountains north of Gunnison, CO. He loved skiing, becoming a ski instructor at Monarch and Ski Cooper in his fifties. He also took advanced ski instructor training in the mountains of Italy, and skied Val-d'Isère.
 
He was a superb trumpet player, whose tone had few rivals. His tone was rich and mellow in a way that very few horn players. His children often compared the famous trumpet players of the world to him and found them lacking. “Doc Severinson,” Kris would say, “What a hack!” Kim takes particular pleasure in the memories of singing with her Dad, as he was musically such a perfectionist. All of Norm’s children express great regret at the loss of his music and take joy in the few recordings that remain.

Upon spotting Patricia Kay Anderson, across a crowded room, Swede took one look at her red dress, turned to his buddy and announced, “I’m going to marry that girl.” A few months later, in 1957, he did. Married 61 years, that union produced four children: Kristofer (Susanna), Kimberly (Steve Bentz), Kenneth (Karen), and Kathryn (Glenn Hodge).  He had eleven grandchildren, Kristen, Craig (Sarah), Alex, Matthew, Zachary, Kristy, April, Tiffanie (deceased), Justin, Kayla (Royce), Ashlee (Andy), and ten great grandchildren, Timothy, Benjamin, David, Bird, Myracle, Jeremiah, Mercy, James, McKinzie, and Karsyn.

Swede is preceded in death by his father, Chester B. Carlson, who worked in the shipyards during WWII, afterward he then became a hard rock miner, a tavern owner, and eventually became a bookkeeper for a cement company; by his mother, Doris Matheson Carlson, who was a nurse treating those living near Index, Washington, and by a step-granddaughter, Tiffanie Mallea, 15, of Rock Springs, Wyoming.

At his request, no funeral service was held.