Elmer Karlstad

A Funeral Service for Elmer Karlstad of Salol, will be held on Wednesday, November 18th at 1:00 PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau. Visitation will be from 11:00 – 1:00 on Wednesday before the funeral service at Helgeson Funeral Home. Interment will be at Pine Grove Cemetery, Roseau, MN.

Elmer Karlstad passed away on Saturday, November 14th at the age of 91.

Elmer Karlstad was born on July 22, 1924 to Melvin and Ingrid (Mortenson) Karlstad in Falun Township. He attended grade school in Falun District 112. He was confirmed at Pine Grove Lutheran Church in Pencer. Elmer graduated from Roseau High School in 1943. On January 2, 1948 he enrolled at the Lutheran Bible Institute of Minneapolis, then Lutheran College in Wahoo, NB; and Augsburg College in Minneapolis majoring in Music and Sociology. He got a job in Minneapolis as an Orthopedic Technician and the head of orderly at Swedish Hospital. He was in charge of radio broadcasts produced from the Global Gospel Fellowship. Elmer also worked for 34 years in mineral research at the U.S. Bureau of Mines. Elmer was an active member of the American Guild of Organists since the 1950’s. He accompanied, Daniel Utter, a baritone soloist for seven years. They were often heard on Lutheran Broadcasts.  

In 1992 Elmer retired and moved back to the family farm in Falun Township. Elmer served as organist throughout his lifetime both in the Twin Cities area and in Roseau and Warroad following his retirement. He was organist for the weddings of his nieces and nephews. He accompanied at many other weddings and funerals. Elmer lived on the farm until 2009. In January of 2010 he moved to the Warroad Senior Living Center. There were three very important aspects of Elmers life and those were his faith, family and love of music. Elmer loved spending time with all the generations of his family. He enjoyed traveling through Europe for the most part to learn about his family history. It was very important to him.

Elmer is survived by his sister, Helen Aasen of Roseau, MN; nieces, Karen (Mike) Hagen of Roseau, MN, Bev (Tim) Bialke of Wannaska, MN, Diane (Brian) Gregerson of Roseau, MN, Joan (Arlyn) Dvergsten of Strathcona, MN, Jean (Tim) Foss of Grygla, MN; nephews, Robert (Joanne) Severson of Wannaska, MN, David (Terri) Severson of Wannaska, MN, Arlen Severson of Warroad, MN. 

Elmer is preceded in death by his parents, sister, Marie Ann Severson; nephew, Rodney Aasen; brother-in-laws, Bennie Aasen, Adolph Severson. Blessed be his memory

 Service Information