Obituary of Winona Ruth Carlson

Winona Ruth "Nonie" Carlson, age 90, of Minnetonka, passed away from colon cancer on April 5, 2019. Nonie had the opportunity to be in home hospice where she was surrounded by her children and grandchildren and visited by many other family members. Nonie was able to view the birds welcoming spring and listen to music as she enjoyed the gathering of family. Preceded in death by her husband, Harlan (Hack) Carlson; parents Bill and Gertrude Peters; sister Virginia Ward; and brothers Harold and Eugene Peters. Nonie is survived by her children Cynthia Carlson of St. Paul, Diana Zera (Richard) of Minnetonka, and Eugene Carlson of Apple Valley. Grandchildren Chloe Zera (Jonathan Bass) of Brookline, MA, Thomas Zera (Kristina) of Richfield, August Zera of Minnetonka, Timothy Carlson of St. Paul and Lauren Buckley (David) of St. Paul. Great-grandchildren Ivy, Leo, and Hazel Bass and Sophia Zera. Also survived by her sister-in-law Doris Peters of North Platte, NE and many nieces and nephews. Nonie was born in North Platte, Nebraska in 1928. Her brothers taught her tumbling and she became a daring and enthusiastic cheerleader throughout High School. Nonie was also a talented soprano and sang in several choral groups and musical theater productions, including singing the title role in the operetta The Marriage of Nanette during her senior year of high school. Nonie continued to sing for many years in her church choir and for weddings and funerals. In 1949, Nonie married the love of her life, Hack Carlson. During their marriage, Hack and Nonie moved from Nebraska to Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota, and Michigan. Tragically, their time together was cut short with Hack's sudden death when Nonie was only 40. After Hack's death, Nonie moved her children back to Minnesota, where she believed opportunities for working women were better than anywhere else she had lived. When the family had previously lived in Minnesota, Nonie worked for Cargill until a business transfer took the family to Michigan. After some time to grieve, Nonie returned to work for Cargill and revived her career as a telephone operator. Nonie was a pro at operating a cord board, a skill she learned as a teenager working for Northwestern Bell, where she continued to work until the birth of her youngest child. Nonie was delighted to eventually return to Cargill, where she loved the challenge of new technology and where she enjoyed a work family of close friends. Nonie retired from full time work at the age of 74 and continued to fill in for vacations until the age of 79 when treatment for breast cancer left her too weak to work a full day. Nonie loved to crochet, bird watch, listen to music and watch movies, musical performances, baseball, and golf. Most of all, Nonie loved her life and struggled valiantly to live despite multiple health conditions. Thank you to Dr. Greg Lehman, Dr. Mark Menge and the staff of the Frauenshuh Cancer Center, the Palliative Care physicians at Hennepin Healthcare, and Nonie's team with Hospice of the Twin Cities. A memorial service and celebration of Nonie's life is being planned for a date this summer, to be announced later. Memorials can be made to payitforwardfund.net or hopechest.comArrangements by the Cremation Society of Minnesota, Edina Office. 952-924-4100 cremationsocietyofmn.com