Ronald Raymond Carlson

Ronald Raymond Carlson of Holladay, UT passed away on May 21, 2026 at the age of 91, preceded by Alosia Carlson, his wife of 68 years, this past November. He was born on April 10, 1935, in Chicago, IL, the first child of Walter Carlson and Helen (Larsen) Carlson. His brothers David (or Dave) and Richard (or Dick) came along in subsequent years to create a family of five. Always deeply involved in the Norwegian American community, the Carlson family shared many joyful moments with the Johansen family during Sunday dinners, birthday celebrations and vacation adventures to Lake Champlain. From a young age, Ron was clowning around, cracking jokes and making people laugh.

During high school, Ron delved into the creative arts, participating in school plays and singing in the choir. He ran track, placing first in the 660 yard race in which all the Chicago high schools competed. In college, he continued his love of singing and joined the University of Illinois Men’s Glee Club, appearing with his fellow Glee Club members on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1955. He also joined the choir at the Wesley Foundation on the Urbana-Champaign campus where he met Alosia, his future wife. Through the ROTC, Ron obtained his private pilot license. In January of 1957, he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the Air Force all in the same day. A few days later, Ron married Alosia, beginning their adventure together as husband and wife and creating their 3 children: Scott, Beth, and Eric.

Ron’s poise and charisma was recognized in grade school at the age of 9 when he was chosen to speak at a 1,200 person luncheon in a Chicago hotel. The phrase next to his picture in his high school yearbook reads “Most likely to succeed”. And indeed, he truly succeeded in all aspects of life. By April of 1960, Ron had completed his service with the Air Force and returned to his work in the retail world. Ron had been actively working in the grocery and drug business since the age of 16 when he got his first official job with Jewel Food Stores. It was his talents, recognized all the way back when he was 9, along with his retail smarts that caught the eye of Sam Skaggs and landed him in Salt Lake City in 1968. Within four years of working for Skaggs Drug Company, Ron was promoted to Vice President of Merchandising. Opportunities arose within this new role to infuse his work with his creative talents such as filming videos in his backyard, displaying new lawn and garden merchandise to store managers and advising them on what to buy. Eventually, Jewel Osco merged with Skaggs Drug and became American Stores and Ron became involved in the development of Private Label Brands. His role in retail was always evolving and expanding, and he thrived in his work. Ron retired in 1998 after 48 years in the food and drug retail business, starting with Jewel Osco and essentially ending with Jewel Osco.

Over the course of his 91 years, Ron found joy in many creative pursuits - building soapbox derby cars, finishing a basement, constructing a waterfall in the backyard, sculpting clowns, constructing models, writing poems and stories, doing jigsaw/crossword puzzles. He enjoyed Broadway plays, Orchestra performances and outdoor concerts as well as reading novels. Playing golf with the guys was a highlight of his week for many years. What brought him his greatest joy, though, was dancing with his beloved Alosia and the births of his three children.

Ron spent his life providing for and supporting others. He started delivering groceries in his little red wagon to the elderly at the age of 11. This sense of service to others took many forms. In so many ways - whether he was assisting his fellow classmates as a crossing guard, singing in the church choir, assisting in the production of church plays, providing room and board for children with cancer to have a mountain getaway, tending the fire at the sweat lodges, supporting Alosia with her community endeavors or stepping in as a grandfather to his precious Maya - his life exemplified this sense of service.

Thank you, our Beloved Ron, for 91 years of conducting our Soul Orchestra.

An evening viewing will be held Friday June 12, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and an afternoon viewing will be held Saturday June 13, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm. Funeral services will be Saturday June 13, 2026, at 2:00 pm all at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Millcreek, UT 84106. The funeral service can be attended virtually at the following link: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c26065507904288

Interment will follow at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Millcreek, UT 84106 in the Olympus Section. Alosia’s ashes will also be buried alongside Ron at this time

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his honor to The Utah Food Bank.