Irene Carlson, 103, of Maxbass, entered the presence of Jesus on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at Trinity Nursing Home, Minot. 
Irene Esther Carlson was born September 19, 1922, to Gustav and Louise (Kraus) Pankow near Butte.  She attended rural school at Byersville School No. 2, then spent three years at Butte High before graduating from Velva Agricultural High School.  She later graduated from Minot State Teachers College.  Irene spent the summer of 1945 employed at the Kaiser Shipyards as part of the war effort; she worked on an aircraft carrier in Vancouver, WA.  That fall, she briefly moved to Modesto, CA, and taught grades one and two.  She then returned to North Dakota, teaching at the rural school she once attended.  Over her career, she also taught north of Turtle Lake, at Brander School in Bottineau County, and in Lignite, Bottineau, Wilton, McClusky, Maxbass and Minot (Roosevelt Elementary and McKinley Elementary) before retiring in 1974. 
In 1952, Irene’s college roommate, Maybelle, decided to introduce Irene to her cousin, Clarence Carlson.  Clarence and Irene were married on December 14, 1952, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Butte, and made their home on the Carlson farm near Maxbass.  She and Clarence enjoyed traveling, especially to see family on the West Coast and in Chicago, but she was always very proud of her roots in Butte.  Irene was a member of Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, rural Antler, where she was active in the Willing Workers.  Irene loved chatting with people wherever she went and was involved in Homemakers, the Senior Citizens Center of Lansford, the Retired Teachers Association, along with anything else that gave her a chance to talk to friends (and make new ones). 
Irene’s secrets to longevity:  Walk two miles every day.  Read the newspaper front to back.  Call your friends to chat regularly.  Always say yes to dessert (especially chocolate). 
Family:  Irene is survived by her loving family; her son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Elaine Carlson; grandchildren, Shar (Dave) Marthaler and Andrew Carlson; great-grandson, Sam Marthaler, and several nieces and nephews. 
Irene was preceded in death by:  Her parents, Gust and Louise; her husband, Clarence; brothers, Walter, Henry, William, Arnold, Raymond and Clarence; sisters, Christine (Tena) and Clara. 
Funeral: 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, rural Antler. 
Visitation:  One hour before the service, at the church.  Friends may also sign the online guestbook at brosefuneralhome.com. 
Memorials:  Memorials may be made to the Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church Willing Workers, Hope Forest of ND, or a charity of the donor’s choice. 
(Brose Funeral Home, Mohall)