Carroll Kelsh

Carroll “Bud” Kelsh, 87, of Fargo, ND, died Thursday, July 15, 2010, at MeritCare Palliative Care, Fargo. Bud was born on April 29, 1923, on his grandfather’s farm out of Alma Center, Wisconsin. He died on Thursday, July 15, 2010, at the age of 87. He was the only son of Ervin and Dora (Hanusa) Kelsh. His folks moved to Houghtonberg, where he received his eight year elementary education in a one room school. In 1935, his folks moved to Humbird, where he graduated from Humbird High School. After graduation, he went to Milwaukee and worked as a welder at Harnischfeger and Heil Companies until 1943, when he was drafted into military service. He was trained as a wire man in 78th Division at Camp Butner, N.C. and Camp Picket, Virginia. The Division went to Europe in 1944 and entered combat at the time of the Bulge, December 1944. He was wounded after crossing the Rhine River on the Remagon Bridge and spent three months in hospitals in France and England. After the war ended in Europe, he went back to his unit and the division was sent to Berlin from where Bud was deployed home. He was discharged in 1946. In 1947, he went to work for AT&T out of Chicago, later transferring to Northwestern Bell in North Dakota, from whom he retired after nearly 36 years. He was a life member of Shiloh Masonic Lodge #1, Daylight Lodge #135, Fargo Scottish Rite, D.A.V., V.F.W., El Zagal Shrine, Optimist International and a member of the American Legion. He was honored by being made a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason in 1975. He was a 55 year member of the First Lutheran Church and worked as a gardener there for over 25 years. He has served first as a council member and on the Property Committee. Bud was confirmed in the German Reformed Church in Humbird, WI, in 1938. He married Joyce Hardwick on May 22, 1948, in Neilsville, WI. From this union were born five children. Bud is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joyce of Fargo; son Bruce and his wife, Wendy, of Hong Kong and their sons, Aaron and Alex; son Nick and his wife, Anne, of Philadelphia and their three sons, Chaz, Alexander, and Teddy; son Eric of Albuquerque and his wife, Teresa, and their daughter, Madison; son Joel of Minneapolis; and daughter Jill Mattson and her husband Paul Mattson of Crosby, Minnesota, and their son, Jim, and daughter, Elizabeth, and his sister, Ruth Harden Peplau of Eau Claire; several in-laws and nieces and nephews. Bud was preceded in death by his sisters Marjorie and Betty. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Scottish Rite H.E.L.P Center, 1405 4th Street North, Fargo 58102, a speech and language disorder clinic sponsored by the Scottish Rite. Memorial Service: Friday, July 23, 2010 at 10:30 AM, at First Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation: Thursday, July 22, 2010 from 5-7 PM, at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Masonic Service: Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 7 PM at Hanson-Runsvold.