Helen Elizabeth Carlson

She was born June 13th, 1960, in Albuquerque, New Mexico; the daughter of Dr. Robert and Carole (Lang) Larson. She moved to Greeley, Colorado, with her mother and father at the age of two.

Helen graduated from University High School in 1978. She met her husband, Albion, via mutual friends in Greeley, Colorado, in 1977 and got engaged just weeks later. On June 3rd, 1978, Helen and Albion were wed at the McGregor Ranch in Estes Park, Colorado. Later that year, Helen and Albion both enrolled as undergraduate students at the University of Wyoming. Helen graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1982, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. Helen then went on to earn a Master’s degree in Seventeenth Century English Literature from the University of Northern Colorado. While finishing her Master’s, Helen began teaching undergraduate English courses where she first fell in love with teaching.

In 1987, Helen and Albion moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they started their family. Helen taught at several schools in New Mexico including Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe and branches in Northern New Mexico communities.

In 1997, Helen and Albion moved back to Greeley where Helen again taught English at UNC. During this time, she began designing the home to be built for her on the farm that she would cherish and where she would raise her children and create countless memories.

Upon retiring from teaching, Helen focused much of her attention on growing beautiful flower and vegetable gardens on the land surrounding the home. Helen was also very fond of animals and was mother to a myriad of animals including cats, dogs, horses, and chickens.

Helen was a free spirit and it was always a treasure to hear her beautiful self-taught piano throughout the house. She was an artist of many mediums including clay, paints, pastels, pencils and more. She was an eloquent communicator and was always full of ideas to make life more bright, fun, interesting, and colorful. She loved to make up games and play cards and puzzles with her grandchildren. Helen had a way of making every gathering special, no matter the event. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, the whole family enjoyed her immaculate Christmas Eve parties where she would serve traditional Swedish dishes and her famous spritz cookies.

She is survived by her husband, Albion; son, Leif; daughters, Hanna and Teresa; grandchildren, Mia, Alivia, and Madelyn; brother, Matt (Leona) Larson; aunts, Sally Larson and Nancy Davis; and beloved dog, Beanie.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00pm at Allnutt Funeral Service at Macy Chapel, 6521 W. 20th Street, Greeley.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, February 10, 2025, at Allnutt Macy Chapel at 12:00pm, followed by a reception, and then followed by interment at Linn Grove Cemetery at 1700 Cedar Ave. in Greeley.

Charitable donations in Helen’s name can be made to Saint Joseph’s Indian School in South Dakota and the Salvation Army, in the care of Allnutt Macy.