Katherine “Kathee” Rae Carlson, Parkers Prairie, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at St. Williams Living Center under the care of Hospice of Douglas County.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 28, 2026, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie with Rev. Ben Dyrhaug officiating. Kathee’s service will be livestream and can be viewed on her tribute page on the funeral home’s website.

Visitation is 4-7 p.m., Friday, March 27th, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church and will continue one hour prior to the service.

Kathee was born on January 24, 1951, to Raymond E. and Katherine “Kay” (Bohn) Carlson in Grafton, North Dakota. She graduated valedictorian from Grafton High School in 1969 and graduated from the College of St. Catherine in 1973 with a degree in occupational therapy. She spent the next ten years as an occupational therapist in several locations. In 1982, Kathee decided to change careers and entered the University of Minnesota Law School. She earned her Juris Doctor in 1985 graduating magna cum laude and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. Kathee practiced law in Wadena, at the law firm of Carlisle Law (now Pemberton Law) until her retirement.

Kathee’s greatest wish was to have a family. At the wedding dance of her future sister-in-law, she met a farmer named Gary Olson. Courtship ensued and they were married in Grafton, on August 16, 1985. The newlyweds made their home on a farmstead just outside of Parkers Prairie. In 1991, they were blessed with a son, Charles “Charlie” Raymond Olson. Kathee was a proud chronicler of her family’s milestones, never missing an opportunity to share updates and celebrate successes. She treasured the simple, sacred moments of family life.

Kathee felt blessed to be welcomed into such a loving community and dedicated herself to giving back. She served for years on the board of St. Williams Living Center, volunteered during town celebrations, and sang in the church choir. She loved supporting the young students and athletes of Parkers Prairie by coaching and judging for the speech team and cheering on at sporting events.

Kathee was an inveterate letter writer. She would toss off a note, a card, or a letter as easy as breathing, many of them handwritten in a beautiful cursive (the Palmer Method). She loved to acknowledge another’s success or blessings or commiserate with another’s sorrow or grief. She especially loved seeing young children at the business of just being alive.

We will miss her dearly.

She was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law, Laverne and Beverly Olson; sister-in-law Linda Trosdahl; brother-in-law Bruce Olson; nephew Kyle Olson; and great-nephew Bryton Trosdahl.

Kathee is survived by her husband of 40 years, Gary Olson; son Charlie Olson; sister, Sara (David) Thronsedt; brother, Bryan (Wanda) Carlson; nieces, Laura (Jake) Grefsrud and son Mason and Chelsea (Arnie) Nelson; nephews, Nick (Becky) Dorsher and family Jack, Grace, Peter and William, Andrew Carlson, and Rob (Tammy) Trosdahl and son Austin; brother-in-law Dick Trosdahl; and sister-in-law Joyce Olson.

Pallbearers are Rick Alton, Mike Debilzen, Doug Hoffman, Chris Carlson, Russ Sowers, and Rob Trosdahl. Honorary pallbearers are the Parkers Prairie Lion's Club.