Events
Minnesota Services
St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Rd, Mahtomedi, MN 55115Monday May 20, 2024 10:30 AM
Utah Celebration of Life
Le Jardin, 1910 East Dimple Dell Road, Sandy, UTThursday Jun 6, 2024 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Morris “Morrie” Carlson, 87, of Sandy, Utah, passed away on April 29th, 2024 due to post-operative complications, surrounded by his wife, daughters, granddaughter, and step-granddaughter.
He was home-birthed on May 15th, 1936, to Bernice and Fritz Carlson, originally from Sweden. Morrie called the then-small town of Elk River, Minnesota, his home until graduating high school in 1954. As soon as his adult voice manifested, the 13-year- old Morrie knew with absolute clarity that said voice would be his living, entertaining and informing on the radio. So, at the University of Minnesota, he studied radio and
television speech, minoring in journalism. Before graduating however, Morrie met the intelligent and capable Betsy Hansen, and made her his wife at the start of his senior year.
While at his first job at WDAY in Fargo / Moorehead, Morrie did a stint in the National Guard. Also, while in Moorhead, Morrie and Betsy had their two daughters, Linda, in 1961, and Amy, in 1965. Next came a brief stint at WLW in Cincinnati, followed by twelve years at WWJ in Detroit, where he became “Morrie in the morning”. Then the West beckoned, with a decade at KSL in Salt Lake City.
Throughout his career, he did a bit of voiceover work on the side. Ever jocular, Morrie was most at home behind the microphone: doing interviews, spinning tunes, and entertaining. When not working, Morrie faithfully sang bass in his Lutheran church choir. When granddaughter Rachel arrived, he doted on her, forging a special grampa-granddaughter bond. He put many an hour into maintaining a lovely yard, and in his later years, into keeping tabs on world affairs.
Morrie is survived by the aforementioned Betsy Hansen Carlson of Sandy, UT, after sixty-six years of marriage. He is also survived by eldest daughter Linda Carlson, of Sandy, UT, and her daughter, Rachel Carlson, of Washington, D.C. He is additionally survived by youngest daughter Amy Carlson Miesel (Richard), of Wheeling, WV, and their sons, Theodore "Ted" Carlson Miesel and Anthony "Tony" Carlson Miesel, both
of Morgantown, WV. He is also survived by his brother John (Alem) Carlson of New Hope, MN.
Formal funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, May 20, 2024 at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. Interment at Orono Cemetery in Elk River, MN.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Utah on June 6, 2024, at Le Jardin, 1910 E. Dimple Dell Road (10600 S.), Sandy, UT. The celebration will be held from 11:00am to 1:00pm with a short, 30-minute program beginning at 11:30am.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-
and-dedications.html?sc_icid=wtg-mm-memorial-giving
or
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary at https://bestfriends.org/donate.
The family is immensely grateful for all the condolences and support during this time.
Video
Guestbook/Condolences
So sorry to hear of Maurie's recent death. Periodically I would be calling on customers in Wyoming and driving around between sales calls. I could receive nothing on my radio except for KSL and there would be Maurie interviewing some Salt Lake community leader. It was always enjoyable. Maurie was a wonderful radio host and a great person to know.
Mr Morrie Carlson
Morrie was loved by all who ever met him . My parents thought the world of him and Betsy.He was a wonderful husband and family man to my dear cousin Betsy. He was true to his faith and really lived it.May your memories be a source of comfort as you know he is in Gods loving hands.Although we have not been in touch recently please know I think of your family often. God bless you all. Katie
We have had many good times with Morrie and Betsy. Morrie was a wonderful and fun host when we were in a gourmet dinner group together and when we visited them in North Dakota. I remember a picnic breakfast in the canyons and a fun trip to the Art show in Montana. We have had many good times with the Morrie and Betsy over the years. Betsy and family you have our deepest sympathy for your loss.
I am so sorry to hear of Mr Carlson's passing. In 1970 I was on his WWJ radio program in Detroit. I was a DJ at our High School (Cousino in Warren Mi) and was picked from Detroit area Schools to appear on his program The event was called voices of tomorrow.. I spent the morning broadcasting with Mr Carlson and then he gave us a tour of the studio which was a big highlight to me. Even after over 54 years I remember him as a very kind and gentle person he was a big Mentor in my life my deepest sympathy to his family God bless.
Reggie DiRezze
I used to hear Mr. Carlson when he was on WWJ radio in Detroit. I even interviewed him there for a school paper I was doing about broadcasting. He was a very nice man and a good broadcast talent. The last time I talked to him was when I was visiting Salt Lake City with my parents. He did not forget me. R.I.P. Mr. Carlson.