Bernadean G. (Kogel) Carlson, 88, passed away Friday, February 1, 2013 at Brookview Manor after a courageous battle with cancer. Visitation will be from 5 PM until 7 PM Monday, February 4, 2013 at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings, SD. A private burial for family members only will be held at the Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to either, the American Cancer Society or the Children’s Museum, Brookings, SD. At one time, the museum building was an elementary school where Bernadean taught, and there is an old photo on exhibit showing her and some of the other teachers of that time.

Bernadean Carlson was born March 10, 1924, in Woonsocket, SD, to William and Ethlyn (Shreve) Kogel. She married Melvin M. (Swede) Carlson on November 18, 1945 in Pipestone, Minnesota. He preceded her in death in 1990.

She is survived by daughters, Kiti Lyn (R.T.) Lawton, Colorado Springs, CO and Cheryl V. (James) Mergen, Sioux Falls, SD; sons, Timothy M. Carlson, Brookings, SD and Thomas M. (Lynn) Carlson, Brookings, SD; 9 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren; sister, Janice Guderian, Hamilton, GA and sister-in-law, Rosie Binger, Tulsa, OK.

Bernadean graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1942 and from Madison Teacher’s College in 1967. She taught school in Woonsocket, Dell Rapids and Brookings for over 40 years and received a Brookings Teacher of the Year Award. She was a member of First Methodist Church, the Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority and the Retired Teachers Association. Some of her pleasures in life were reading, tending to her flowers, traveling, to include 9 trips to Maui with family, and especially spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com