CLEO LUCILLE CARLSON
January 2, 1931 – November 6, 2018

Cleo Lucille Carlson, 87, of Burlington, Washington passed away peacefully at Skagit Valley Hospital surrounded by family, November 6, 2018. Cleo was born January 2, 1931 to Edward Sigfred and Emma Catherine (Magnuson) Berg in Tokio, North Dakota, the tenth of eleven children. Her childhood was spent growing up as the youngest girl in the family, living on the farm. Cleo graduated from Devils Lake High School in 1949 working in various administrative and bookkeeping jobs.
She met Leo Ewald Carlson when he was a roommate of her brother Dennis while attending Lakewood Bible College in Devils Lake, North Dakota and they fell in love and married on June 15, 1954 in a double wedding with her older sister Ruby. Cleo and Leo were married for nearly 61 years until his death on May 1, 2015. During the early years of their marriage, they lived in North Dakota where Leo worked for the Great Northern railroad while Cleo became a homemaker giving birth to their first two children. Douglas Dene, born in Devils Lake, North Dakota. and Marla Lynne, born in Rolette, North Dakota, their only daughter.
By early 1963, they left North Dakota and moved their family to Everett, Washington where they lived for a short time prior to moving to Marysville, Washington in 1964. Three more children were born to Cleo and Leo in Everett, Washington. Curtis Mark, Bradley Kent and Gary Todd completing their family.
In September of 1968, with all five children in tow, Cleo and Leo moved yet again to Burlington, Washington having purchased a Foremost dairy route. Together they built their home that would become the family homestead for nearly fifty years. Cleo continued as a homemaker raising their children, and took on the added responsibility of managing all the bookwork for the business. After all her children were grown, Cleo pursued employment outside the home working in bookkeeping, an area of work that she truly enjoyed. She first worked for several years for the Cranberry Tree Restaurant, and then later Skagit State Bank where she worked for many years and retired in 1996.
During their early retirement years, Cleo and Leo enjoyed traveling in their 5th wheel trailer visiting many family and friends in numerous destinations including Mariner spring training in Arizona.
Cleo's faith in her Lord was strong and together with her family she attended Viewcrest Assembly of God Church in Mount Vernon for many years where she sang in the choir and would often be found greeting people as they arrived for church. Later, Cleo and Leo attended Cascade Christian Center where they remained loyal and faithful members of the congregation until their passing.
Cleo was preceded in death by her parents, several brothers and sisters, a grandson, Isaac James, and her husband Leo of nearly 61 years. She leaves behind her five children and their spouses: Douglas and Barbara Carlson of Mount Vernon, Washington, Marla and Guy Vallee of Pahrump, Nevada, Curtis and Traci Carlson of Gig Harbor, Washington, Brad and Susie Carlson of Yelm, Washington, and Gary and Ruthie Carlson of Fruitland, Idaho; eight grandchildren; Ryan Vallee (Bec) of Brisbane, Australia, Jay Vallee (Angie) of Casa Grande, Arizona, Jessilyn Fisher of Maple Valley, Washington, Jonathan Carlson (Coylynn) of Lakewood, Washington, Nathan Carlson (Emily) of Spokane Valley, Washington, Andrew Carlson of Bellingham, Washington, James Carlson (Kelsey) of Yelm, Washington, Jandee (Nick) Lloyd of Brisbane, Australia, and six great-grandchildren, Seth, Noah and Scarlett Vallee, and Owen, Isobel and Sawyer Carlson. She also leaves behind two older sisters and one younger brother, Ruby (Edward) Linde of Marysville, Washington, Ferne Ullestad of Lakewood, Washington, and Dennis (Angie) Berg of Corona, California, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends, too many to count.
Cleo was a gentle spirit and blessed with a long, full life. Her host of family and friends brought her immense joy and she loved to talk with them daily and share of her many conversations with those who she had heard from. She will be dearly missed.
The family wishes to thank the many nurses and doctors of Skagit Valley Hospital who provided compassionate care on numerous occasions. And, a very special thank you to Dr. Duncan Landreth and Julie Heath, for their many years of excellent care, love and kindness shown to Cleo and her family to the very last moment of her passing. Our hearts are deeply grateful. Memorials may be made in Cleo's honor to the Stop Trafficking Project at www.stoptraffickingproject.com.
Viewing will be held on Monday and Tuesday, November 12 and 13, 2018 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm at Hawthorne Funeral Home, 1825 E. College Way, Mount Vernon, Washington.
Following a private burial, a celebration of Cleo's life will be held at noon, on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at Cascade Christian Center, 2901 Martin Road, Mount Vernon, Washington.