Yvonne Lynette Carlson, Springfield, departed this life for her heavenly home on Monday, January 23, 2012.
She was born December 20, 1922 in Sisseton, SD to Ole and Ollie Eggen Opsal. There she grew up and graduated from Sisseton High School.
Yvonne was united in marriage to Orville H. Carlson, August 22, 1947. To this union two daughters and a son were born.
She attended North Central Bible College, Minneapolis, MN and held ministerial papers with the Assemblies of God. Together with her husband, they pastored churches in Minnesota. In 1954 they departed with their family for missionary work in the country known today as Bangladesh for a period of ten years. In 1965 to 1986 they served in the Fiji Islands. Rev. Carlson established South Pacific Bible College where Yvonne filled teaching and administrative positions. Her early training as an accountant proved very beneficial. She also served as National President of Fiji’s Women’s Ministries. From 1987 to 1990 she and her husband served in an Assembly of God Bible College in Jamaica.
In 2000 Yvonne authored a book entitled “Treasured Memories,” a story of their missionary family’s trials and triumphs. She wrote poetry for which she received recognition. She wrote many poems for her family and made poetry albums for each of her children and grandchildren including more that 200 of her poems.
She was beloved by her family and a host of friends and was a true prayer warrior and soul winner. She will be dearly missed.
She is survived by her children and their spouses; daughter Renee Gilligan and husband William of Broken Arrow, OK; a son Randale Carlson and wife Renee, missionaries to the Kingdom of Tonga; daughter Rita Jones and husband Grant of Springfield, MO; six grandchildren: Megan Gilligan, Cherie Herrera and husband Richard, Charity Boyd and husband Andrew, Benjamin Carlson, Ryan Jones and wife Mary, Cameron Jones and wife Kayla, and six great-grandchildren; one surviving sister, Avis Osland of Springfield, MO.
She was preceded in death by her husband, the late Orville Carlson in March, 2002.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, January 28, 2012 in Maranatha Chapel, 233 E. Norton Road, Springfield. Burial will be in Rivermonte Memorial Gardens, 4500 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Friday, January 27 in Greenlawn Funeral Home North, 3506 N. National, Springfield.
Memorial donations may be made to: Tonga Bible School (Acct: 201066), c/o AGWM, 1445 Boonville, Springfield, MO 65802.