Walter "Kirby" Carlson, 60, died Thursday, August 18, 2011 in a Minneapolis hospital. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 11:00 am at Trinity Lutheran Church in Douglas. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Douglas.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 1 to 7 at Thompson Funeral Home in Garrison.

Walter Michael (Kirby) Carlson was born November 4, 1950 to Carl (Bud) and Elsie (Thiel) Carlson, the first of 2 children. He was raised on a farm just outside Douglas, ND and attended elementary and junior high there. He went to high school in Ryder, ND and graduated from there in 1969.

Upon graduating, Walter farmed with his parents until the operation was sold in 1989. In addition to farming, the family owned and operated Kirby's Bar in Douglas from 1982-1987. He worked several years at 3-D Specialties in Minot, following the sale of the bar and the family farm. Walter loved farming; he looked forward to combining each fall with local custom harvesters, most recently Roen Harvesting.

Walter married Nita Olson in February 1987 and became a step-parent to Brandi Olson, who he remained close with until his death. In 1988, he was blessed with his own child, Tabitha Carlson – a beautiful, freckle-faced red-head, who was the spitting image of her dad. In 2009, he was introduced to his son, Philip Petz, then 22, and was happy he was able to get to know him in the short time they had together. Kirby valued family and loved spending time with his children, younger sister, Peggy and her husband, Ron.

Walter played darts in the local dart league for 24 years, and was consistently in the top of the standings as a player. He also enjoyed working outdoors, playing poker and blackjack, watching NBA games, and bartending and socializing at the local watering hole.

Walter spent the last years of his life battling obstacles brought on by a degenerative heart condition and was lucky to have had many family members and friends as a support system during those difficult times. He died on August 18, 2011 of heart failure after a routine blood transfusion in Minneapolis, MN. Kirby was a great friend to many and will be missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elsie and Bud, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

He is survived by his sister Peggy, her husband, Ron, (Max, ND); children: Tabitha (Douglas, ND), Philip (Minot, ND), and Brandi (Douglas, ND); grandchildren: Bradley and Joshua Michael Bjorn and Parqer Fred; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.