Elizabeth Ann Carlson

Elizabeth Ann Carlson (91) wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt passed away January 20, 2022. She was known as “Beth” to those who knew and loved her.
She was born November 10, 1930, in Idaho Falls, Idaho to Ralph Washington Farnsworth and Hilda Byram Farnsworth, the sixth of eleven children. Beth grew up and attended schools in Ucon, Idaho with her siblings and many cousins. Upon her graduation from Ucon High School, at the urging of her mother, she enrolled in nursing school. As an RN, Beth worked fulfilling many roles within the nursing profession. It was while working at the Idaho Falls, Idaho hospital that she met a patient, Donald Ray Carlson, who later became her husband and the love of her life. It can be said that after Beth nursed Don to health, he danced his way into her heart. They were married on August 30, 1952, in Ucon and later sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on May 22, 1956, for time and all eternity.
Beth and Don welcomed 4 children into their union; Brett, Brad, Betty, and Bill. Don’s career required that they occasionally pick up and move and Beth was always supportive and willing to follow him to their next adventure. They established homes in Idaho Falls, Boise, Pocatello, Eugene, Oregon, and Sandy, Utah.
Beth liked working in her garden and especially loved roses, lilacs, rhododendrons, and her clematis. Together she and Don enjoyed playing games with family, traveling to national parks, the Oregon coast, and RV camping. They liked going on road trips, walking on an Oregon beach, and looking for agates or sand dollars.
Beth liked the color blue, toast, peanut butter and jam, and tuna sandwiches. She loved ballroom dancing and was good at it. She enjoyed reading and still hasn’t forgiven Don for throwing her book out the window on a road trip. In earlier years she was known to save news articles to share with her loved ones or could be found reading stories to her grandchildren. Beth was interested in the stars, the moon, and planets and frequently told her kids to look up and see a planet on a particular night.
She was great with the family budget and liked to save money. Beth listened to the Tabernacle Choir on Sundays which was her church for many years. Her children learned not to call on Sunday mornings. She loved phone calls from family and could talk about current events, healthcare, politics, or religion for as long as you had the time to listen. She would let you know her opinion on things. She had a few crazy ideas like stay out of the water, you might drown, or don’t talk on the phone during a thunder and lightning storm, but that was because she loved her family and worried about them.
Beth loved her children and grandchildren and was happy upon hearing that they were all doing well. She enjoyed meeting her great-grandchildren even though babies stressed her out just a little bit in her later years. She was very proud of her family.
Beth served in many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was a dedicated Relief Society president in Eugene, where she blessed many lives. She had a testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ.
Beth and Don’s love and devotion to each other during 69 years of marriage is a beautiful blessing to their posterity. She is survived by: Bradley R Carlson (Barbara) of Rigby Idaho, Elizabeth Ann Deus (Andy) of West Jordan Utah, William R Carlson (Cristy) of Sandy Utah; 12 grandchildren, Wade Carlson (Nicole), Nathan Carlson (Alisha), David Carlson (Cheri), Daniel Carlson (Crystal), Craig Carlson (Tiffany), Kristina Stickley (Tom), Sheena Chaston (John), Juliann Dalton (Ben), Lisa Bonner (Travis), Brooke Hirschi (Ricky), Brian Carlson, Brittany Carlson, and 29 great-grandchildren. Also survived by sisters, Ramona Excell of Golden, Colorado, Genevieve Cleverley of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Elaine Chapman of Twin Falls, Idaho, and brother Kenneth Farnsworth as well as many nieces and nephews.
Beth was preceded in death by her son Donald Brett Carlson, grandson Benjamin Maurice Carlson, and her parents and six siblings.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a worthy cause or visit someone living alone. Beth and Don were helped by the Red Cross when their home was flooded top to bottom in Idaho. She has also donated many times to Primary Children’s Hospital.
There will be a family memorial for her on Friday, January 23, 2022. A zoom link will be available. Interment will be in the Sandy City Cemetery. Services are under the care of the Larkin Mortuary, Sandy Utah.