Carl "Dean" Carlson

Carl “Dean” Carlson, age 83, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026 surrounded by family at home.  He was born a premature infant on September 5, 1942, in Enfield (Silver Creek Township) in rural Monticello, MN. Delivered at home by his aunt he overcame the odds and was kept alive in a stove warmer acting as an incubator. He was the son of Carl Elmore and Dorothy Cyrene (Bell) Carlson and graduated from Monticello Schools in 1960. Soon after, he proudly served his country as a U.S. Navy corpsman medic stationed at Naval Base Guam in the Mariana Islands of the Pacific Ocean.

On June 27, 1964, he was united in marriage to the love of his life Donna Mae Carron at St. Albert’s Catholic Church in Albertville, MN. Together they built a hobby farm in Enfield (Silver Creek Township) and were blessed with three daughters Chrysann, Deann, and Roxann. There they enjoyed 57 years on that cherished hobby farm, where he loved working the land and raising his family.

A lifelong resident of the Monticello area, Dean worked at Hoffman Engineering in Anoka and North Star Concrete in Osseo as a Parts and Purchasing Manager. Later they purchased Carron Bus Service in Elk River and renamed the business to D & D Bus Service Inc and relocated to Monticello. In 1992, they expanded the business to D&D Distributing Inc, a wholesale and retail company. Dean retired in 2003 and enjoyed time at the family cabin on Maple Lake, fishing and pheasant hunting with friends and family, and spending countless hours in his workshop on various projects. His greatest passions were growing up on the farm and spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, great‑grandchildren, his cat Kitty and many friends. He was a past member of the Monticello Mason Lodge, a member of St. Henry’s Catholic Church and a past president and lifetime member of the Monticello Lions Club.

Survived by his wife of 61 years, Donna; daughters Chrysann (fiancé Jay Anderson) Carlson, Deann (John) Gagnon, Roxann (Joe) Wardarski; a very special person who was like a son Kip (Aimee) Sandberg; eight grandchildren Ashley (Jason) Brevig, Jessie Wardarski, Derec (Tierney) Martie, Rachel (Tyler) Milless, Brady (Sydney) Gagnon, Madison Gagnon, Michael (Ashley) Carriveau, Lexi Wardarski; eight great‑grandchildren Paislee Brevig, Cecelia Brevig, Asher Milless, Rhett Milless, Poppy Gagnon, Arlo Milless, Archer Martie, Sonny Gagnon; brother Darryl Carlson; sister Corrine Brevik; sister‑in‑law Diane DeMars; brother‑in‑law Randy (Debbie) Carron; sister-in-law Denise McAlpine and many nieces, nephews and friends. 

Preceded in death by his parents Carl and Dorothy Carlson; parents‑in‑law Raymond and Jeanette Carron; brother‑in‑law Carl DeMars; brother-in-law Kenneth Brevik; sister‑in‑law Bonnie Carlson; and niece Pamela Carlson.

A special thank you to the Monticello Fitness Revolution Rock Steady for Parkinson’s, Monticello Lions Club, St. Cloud VA and all his caregivers.  A very special thank you to Catherine Woart, Dean’s dedicated VA caregiver and 'buddy.' Catherine truly went above and beyond, becoming a blessing to his family through her extraordinary care and friendship. Thank you everyone for each and every day you have blessed Dean and his family; a good man is gone.

Dean was a kind, gracious and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend who will be sorely missed. Nothing meant more to him than the bond he shared with those he loved. He was the strongest soldier who fought the toughest battle since 2016 as he struggled with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.

A memorial mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at Saint Henry Catholic Church, 1011 East 7th Street, Monticello, MN, with visitation two hours prior to the service with a luncheon to follow. A burial will be held at a later date at Lakeside Cemetery in Enfield (Silver Creek Township) in rural Monticello, MN.

In honor of Dean Carlson’s life and legacy, the family kindly requests memorial donations go to the following organizations.

Fitness Revolution Rock Steady Boxing, are specialty classes Dean participated in that was meaningful to him and gives people with Parkinson’s Disease hope by improving their quality of life through a non-contact boxing-based fitness curriculum.  Checks or cash donations can be mailed or dropped off to Fitness Evolution at 133 Sandberg Rd, Monticello, MN  55362.

Monticello Lions Club, an organization Dean volunteered in that he was committed to by improving lives in the community supporting humanitarian efforts and initiatives. Check donations can be mailed to Monticello Lions Club at PO Box 673, Monticello, MN  55362.