Richard R. “Dick” Carlson, a former English teacher at Forest Lake High School and a native of the area has died.

Carlson, who lived in Lino Lakes, died from cancer on Friday, June 8, 2007. He was 69.

Carlson grew up in the Forest Lake-Scandia area and attended the one-room Big Lake School in Scandia through eight grades. He graduated from Forest Lake High School in 1956 and went on to become a teacher.

He earned a teaching degree from St. Cloud State College in 1966. He served in the Air Force from 1956 to 1960 when he received an honorable discharge.

After college, Carlson taught three years for the Department of Corrections at the Home School in Sauk Centre. He returned home in 1969 when he was hired as an English teacher at the senior high school.

Carlson worked here until 1993 when he took early retirement. In addition to English classes, Carlson developed and taught psychology for college-bound seniors, critical thinking skills classes and science fiction. He also taught sophomore American history.

From 1969 until 1982 he served as a spring play director and also directed one-act plays for the state high school league competition.

Carlson also developed and presented a multi-media program on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy for Forest Lake High School students and often presented the program to other interested groups.

He was also active with the teachers’ union, the Forest Lake Education Association. For 24 years he served as FLEA’s teacher rights and responsibilities representative.

In retirement, Carlson served as a mentor to students at Lino Lakes Elementary.

Carlson is survived by his wife, Katherine (Kathy) Black Carlson, and other relatives and friends.

Memorial party

A memorial party for Richard R. Carlson will take place 1-5 p.m., Saturday, June 30 at Brookview Community Center, next to Brookview Golf Course, 200 Brookview Parkway, Golden Valley.

A brief service is set for 2 p.m. on June 30.

In lieu of flowers, the family is recommending memorials in honor of Dick Carlson go to the June Black Scholarship, Lakeview College of Nursing, 903 N. Logan Ave., Danville, IL, 61832, the Animal Humane Society, 845 Meadow Lane N., Golden Valley, MN 55422; the Community Scholarship Foundation, care of Student Services, Forest Lake High School, 6101 Scandia Trail N., Forest Lake, MN 55025; or to the donor’s favorite charity.

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