Elsie Marie Carlson, rural Overton, Nebraska, passed away July 3, 2009 in Bertrand. Elsie was born September 10, 1934 in Lincoln, Nebraska, the youngest of five children of Ferdinand and Dora (Callsen) Sienknecht. Elsie was baptized and confirmed in Lincoln at St. Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church. She received her education at Lincoln, graduating from Lincoln Central High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. She then pursued higher education on a full scholarship at the Lincoln General Hospital School of Nursing, where she received her RN Degree in August of 1955. Following her education, Elsie began her nursing career at the Brewster Medical Clinic in Holdrege, Nebraska. She then began employment at the Kearney Clinic in Kearney, Nebraska and later her caring ways excelled as the School Nurse for the Kearney Public School System. On June 14, 1966, Elsie was united in marriage to Marvin W. Carlson and the couple were blessed with four children: Kirk, Kathy, Peg and Jeff. The couple engaged in the family farming operation and fed cattle with Marvin's brothers: Alton and Doyle. Marvin and Elsie loved to spend time together dancing, traveling and simply the time together on their every Saturday night, "date night" throughout their married life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin on May 9, 2008.

A big part of Elsie's life was her love for music. In the early 1990's she became a member of the Sweet Adelines. Many friendship bonds were formed through the years performing for many special occasions with this group. Elsie was an active member of the Adullam Lutheran Church, where she played organ for over forty years for Sunday services, and many Weddings and Funerals. She also served the church as a past Sunday School Superintendent, taught Sunday school and served on the Church Council. She enjoyed tending to her flowers and garden. Elsie volunteered on the Election Board, was active with Blood Drives through the Red Cross, and volunteered on a weekly basis at the Bertrand Nursing Home. Elsie leaves to mourn her passing her four children: Kirk Carlson and his wife, Kim of Ralston, Nebraska, Kathy Griess and her husband, Jim of Fremont, Nebraska, Peg Moeller and her husband, Sid of Hooper, Nebraska and Jeff Carlson and his wife, Bertina of Overton; nine grandchildren: Micheal, Brian, Shawn and Joseph Carlson, Robb and Brett Moeller and Alexandra, Ashley and Dalton Carlson; four great-grandchildren; two brothers: Kurt Sienknecht of Colburt, Oklahoma and Paul Sienknecht and his wife, Henny of Midland, Michigan; sister-in-law, Alice Sienknecht of Littleton, Colorado; and a host of other relatives and friends. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers: Fritz Sienknecht and Helmut Sienknecht and his wife, Merle; and two brothers-in-law: Alton Carlson and his wife, Florence and Doyle Carlson.