Elva Leva Carlson

Leva Carlson, (99), passed away at PVHC on Friday, July 5, 2013, after a brief illness, and a long life.  

Leva was born at the family home in Dwyer, Wyoming on November 30, 1913 to Harry Tilden Rutherford, and Lillian Jennie (Guiles) Rutherford.  She graduated with the class of 1932 from Wheatland High School and attended her 80th class reunion last year.  Leva met C. Oscar Carlson in Wheatland, and they were married on November 9, 1933 in Torrington, Wyoming.  They moved to outlying communities near Rockford, Illinois, where their children, George, Carl, Chuck, and Ila were born.  Jack was born in Wheatland, and Kathy in Torrington.  They returned to Wyoming where she and Oscar purchased a farm west of Yoder, Wyoming.  Leva loved Wyoming, and was always singing the state song up until about a month ago.

Leva spent many of her years as a homemaker and helping others  with extensive wall papering.  After Oscar's death in 1971, she went to work at the Valley Mercantile Furniture Company in Torrington, and then served as a weekend clerk at the Yoder Post Office.  She moved to Yoder from the family farm in 1970, and then to Powell in 1994 when she developed macular degeneration.  Leva loved to crochet, making well over 100 afghans and dolls that she gave to family members.  In her later years, many knew her for her love of collecting and sorting state quarters.  She could tell you the order that each of the quarters were minted, and shared numerous quarters with many family members.  Her initial goal was to live until the Wyoming quarters came out, but when she reached that goal, she moved her goal to living to be one hundred years old.  Although she came up a little short, she loved the Lord, and realized that she wouldn't make it to her 100th birthday, so she went and met her maker.

Leva joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Torrington, and then transferred membership to Powell.  She belonged to a close friend group of 12 ladies established as a "Christmas Club" where the ladies shared company once a month, and brought their projects to work on Christmas presents for family members.  This close knit group stayed together until age began separating them.  Leva spent many years attending graduations, weddings, etc., and enjoying her 23 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and 18 great-great-grandchildren.  Leva had seven different five generation photo ops in her lifetime.

Leva will be remembered at a memorial service in Wheatland on Friday, July 12, 2013, at the First Christian Church of Wheatland.  (95 19th Street, Wheatland, Wyoming.)  She will be laid to rest in her final resting place next to her husband of 37 years.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; her sisters, Myrtie Call, Florence Vermilyea, and Erma Vermilyea; brothers Earl Rutherford, and Carl Rutherford; son, Jack T. Carlson; and great-granddaughter, Samantha Carlson.

Survivors include:  Sons, George H. Carlson of Carlsbad, New Mexico, Carl O. Carlson (Carol) of Yoder, Wyoming, and Charles W. Carlson (Ann) of Columbia Missouri; daughters, Ila Mae Valentine (Ray) of Old Town, Florida, and Kathy L. Parsons (Bob) of Powell, Wyoming, three generations of grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

You may honor Leva with a memorial to one of the following charities:  Wheatland Old Grads, The Gideons, or NW Child Evangelism Fellowship, c/o Kathy Parsons, PO Box 533, Powell, Wyoming, 82435.