HARRIET ELISABETH LEE (CARLSON)

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HARRIET ELISABETH LEE (nee CARLSON) November 19, 1916 - March 23, 2010 Peacefully, on March 23, 2010, at Erickson Health Services, Harriet Lee passed away at the age of 93. Harriet was born in Erickson, MB and attended Tales School and Erickson High School. While still a teenager, she caught the eye of a young man named John Lee, who joked that he had to wait for her to grow up before he could propose to her. Harriet and John were married on July 6, 1937 and began a partnership that encompassed every aspect of their married life and lasted 55 years until John's death in 1992. Family, church and community were very important to Harriet. She was a charter member of the Erickson Women's Institute and was recently honoured for 70 years of membership. She had been a Sunday School superintendent, a 4-H leader and was the first secretary of the Erickson Credit Union. She served on the executive of Evangelical Lutheran Church Women, one of the forerunners of the current Evangelical Lutheran Women. Harriet was the prime author of a history of Bethel Lutheran Church written at the time of its 50th anniversary and was the coordinator of a committee that compiled and published the book Forest to Field , a history of the Rural Municipality of Clanwilliam. Harriet was a talented seamstress and excelled in several handicrafts - quilting, knitting, crocheting and hardanger to name a few. Each grandchild was privileged to receive a handmade quilt and each great-grandchild a lovely baby shawl Harriet was very proud of her Scandinavian heritage. She and John traveled quite extensively but their favourite destinations were Norway and Sweden where they touched base with their large extended families. Harriet was predeceased by her parents, Henry and Emma (Hall) Carlson, her husband John, her son Garth, her son-in-law Ronald Geisel, her brothers Ernest, Gordon and Walter and her sister Emma Wallace. She is survived by her sons David (Karen), Craig (Ruth) and Norval (Joan), her daughter Elizabeth Geisel, her daughter-in-law Beverly Lee, her brother Robert (Audrey) Carlson, her sisters-in-law Ruth Carlson, Hilda Carlson and Thelma (George) Doan. Also surviving are 13 grandchildren in whom she took great pride: Brent (Beverley), Brian, Melissa (Douglas), Stuart (Kristina), Cheryl (Peter), Robert (Emma), Trevor (Kimberly), Dana (Brett), Jayne (Dwayne), Brett (Catharina), Rebecca (Scott), Bridget (Mark) and Angela (Brian) She is also survived by 25 great-grandchildren who were a constant source of delight to their Momma We, the family, would like to thank the wonderful staff at Erickson Health Services for the care and compassion shown to our mother in the past 18 months. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at Erickson Lutheran Church with Elgin Hall officiating. The pallbearers will be Harriet's six grandsons, Brent, Brian, Robert, Trevor and Stuart Lee and Brett Geisel. Interment will take place at Bethel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Erickson Lutheran Church Memorial Fund or to a charity of one's choice. Rae's Funeral Services, Shoal Lake is in charge of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 27, 2010