George Bentley Carlson

George Bentley Carlson, known by his family, aunts, uncles, cousins and childhood friends as G.B. and/or “Geeb”, was born on June 26th, 1942, to George and Edna Carlson in Greeley, Colorado. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on Good Friday, April 3rd, 2026, in Frisco, Texas at the age of 83. In his youth he excelled as an athlete. If there was a ball to throw or a running competition, G.B. was an eager participant. At Galeton High School he excelled in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He graduated in 1960 as valedictorian of his class.

G.B.’s life companion was Louise Doreen Carlson. They were married on March 15, 1963. For 59 years they shared many life experiences. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado) and a minor in coaching. He soon followed his bachelor’s degree with a master’s in physics from the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

George enjoyed both teaching and coaching. His passion for teaching began in Gorham, New Hampshire in 1964 and continued for more than four decades. Among the many schools in which he taught, the most memorable were at Estes Park High School in Estes Park, Colorado (1970-1979), Scottsdale Christian Academy in Phoenix, Arizona (1979-1984), and Fruita Monument High School in Fruita, Colorado (1990-2006).

George loved coaching, esp football and wrestling. Many of his wrestlers found success at the state level, including state championships. Those wrestlers included his three sons. He coached many winning football teams. In 1983, as the Defensive Coordinator for the Scottsdale Christian Academy Eagles, George’s defense shut down the Pima Roughrider offense and the SCA Eagles won the State Championship 19-0.

George positively impacted many students academically, athletically, and spiritually. He had a remarkable gift for mentoring young people, especially those on the margins or facing difficult times. No matter the circumstance, he had a steady passion for offering guidance, stability, and a belief in their worth as a human being and child of God. He invested in people’s lives, an investment that will last forever.

George was also passionate about agriculture, having been raised on a farm outside of Galeton, Colorado. Later in life, he purchased two farms of his own in Mack, Colorado. Teaching and coaching were his school year activities, farming and ranching were his summer activities. He enjoyed watching water run down the cultivated rows, as well as turning on the side roll sprinkler and seeing the water burst forth from the sprinkler heads. He loved swathing and baling alfalfa and watching his Limousine Cows graze in the pasture.

All his life, George loved his Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, going to church, and ensuring his wife and children were there with him. He loved fellowship with other believers and studying God’s Word. One of the activities he truly enjoyed was the men’s breakfasts. Perhaps the thing he loved most about church and his relationship with God was singing. He loved the great hymns of the faith, gospel songs, singing bass, and he sang loud! He relished singing in the choir, in a quartet, and on the tractor. George also treasured harmonizing with his talented musical family.

George lived out his love for God through many years of service. He was a deacon at many of the churches he attended, Chief and Chairman of the Board for Tepee Bible Camp (Rifle, Colorado), and Chairman of the Board for Child Evangelism Fellowship. In addition, he, along with his wife Louise, led several mission trips with Agua Viva Ministries to Agua Prieta, Mexico just south of the Arizona border sharing the love of Jesus by building homes, providing clothing and other necessities for many families in this small Mexican town.

Even in his final years in assisted living, George continued to make an impact. He was a favorite among all his hospice team, volunteers, and caregivers who often spoke of his kindness, humor, and strength—qualities that uplifted those around him and left a lasting mark on every heart in the room. They were especially blessed by his passionate singing.

The most important people to George and Louise were their children. As very dedicated parents, they poured immense love, energy, wisdom, prayer, and time into each one of their children’s lives, as well as their eventual spouses, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. George was preceded in death by his parents George and Edna Carlson, his sister Brenda, a nephew Christopher Cozzens, and his beautiful wife Louise. They are all now in the presence of Jesus.

George will be dearly missed by his sister and her family: Priscilla, Harvey, and Nathan Cozzens. His five children and their spouses: Scott and Leslie Carlson, Dana and AJ Rinaldi, Aaron and Kristen Carlson, Mark and Rebecca Carlson, and Angela and Trent Oney. His 17 grandchildren and their spouses: Adriana and Chris, Colton and Danae, Jesse and Lore, Anneliese, Emma and Jackson, Leanna and Peter, Logan, Hunter and Delanie, Ava and Bryce, Ethan, Melanee and Demani, Kassi and Storm, Aidan, Joseph, Malia, Peyton, and Savannah. He also has 15 great-grandchildren: Leila, Annika, Oliver, CJ, Stephen, Javiera, Noam, Ezra, Enzo, Bentley, Judah, Dahlia, Scarlett, Zephaniah, and Arabella.

George’s Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 1 in Estes Park, Colorado at Mountain View Bible Fellowship, 1575 South St. Vrain Avenue. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that contributions be made to: Tepee Bible Camp 7802 County Road 319 Rifle, CO 81650

There is also a donation tab on their website: https://www.tepeebiblecamp.org.

Cards can be sent to: Dana Rinaldi, C/O Stonebriar Funeral Home, 10375 Preston Rd, Frisco, TX 75033.