Milton "Butch" George Carlson

Milton "Butch" Carlson, of Dawson, passed away Monday, November 13, 2023 at his home in Dawson at the age of 79.

Memorial services will be held Monday, November 20, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson with Pastor Kendall Stelter officiating.

Visitation and viewing will be held Sunday, November 19, 2023 from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM at Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the funeral home on Monday.

Arrangements are with Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson, MN.  www.andersontebeest.com

Milton “Butch” Carlson was born September 29, 1944 in Moose Lake, MN to Paul and Rosella (Harris) Carlson.  He was baptized and confirmed into the Methodist faith.  Butch attended and graduated from Willow River Public Schools in 1962.  He helped on the family farm until September of 1963, when he went on to attend a four month machining course in Grantsburg, WI.  Butch met Barbara Nelson while attending his courses in Grantsburg, and they married on December 12, 1964. To this union three children were born: Roxanne, Debra, and Ronald.  After his machining courses, Butch returned home and purchased 23 dairy cows and farmed until 1965. He then moved to Minneapolis working as a machinist until 1978.  Butch met Mary Beth Geatke in 1976 and they were united in marriage on April 11, 1977 at the Justice of the Peace in Watertown, SD.  To this union two children were born, Pegi and Cyndi.  The family moved to Dawson, MN where they purchased Dawson Rec and Hawk’s Bar in Madison, MN.  In 1984 they decided it was time for a new adventure and moved back to the Twin Cities where Butch returned to Lowell, Inc.  They quickly missed the quiet town of Dawson and returned in the same year.  Mary and the kids stayed in Dawson and Butch would commute to the Twin Cities to work during the week, returning home to Dawson on the weekends.  This was their routine until all the children graduated, when Mary moved to be with Butch in 1998.  They lived in an apartment there until Butch retired in 2005, and returned to their home in Dawson full-time.  After retirement Butch enjoyed gardening, dabbling in the stock market, being with family and friends, cooking, and playing in his wood shop.  He was never afraid to voice his opinion and tell you how things should be.  Butch had a corny sense of humor, laugh like no other, and would always greet you with a smile and hello.

Butch is survived by his wife, Mary; children: Roxanne (Ryan) Smith, Deb (Johhny) York, Ron (Kristin) Carlson, Pegi (Jerry) Harberts, and Cyndi (Tim) Carlson; ten grandchildren: Will, Justin (Mel), Pip (Alyssa), Kyle (Staci), Mike, Sam (Emily), Bailey (Cat), Brooke (James), Mason, Evan; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marian (Stan); mother-in-law, Dorothy; family friend, Father Schmitzer; sister-in-law, Sam; and son-in-law, Roy.