Tom Carstensen

To watch a recording of Tom's funeral service please click the following link. It will be available for viewing on the afternoon following his funeral service. View Funeral Webcast

GEORGE "TOM" THOMAS CARSTENSEN, JR. was born to George and Leona (Eggers) Carstensen, Sr. on June 18, 1931 on the family farm in Troy Township, Pipestone County, Minnesota. He was baptized on December 3, 1933 and confirmed on April 25, 1943 at Zion Evangelical Methodist Church in Pipestone, Minnesota. He attended country school in District 11 and later attended school in Pipestone, graduating from Pipestone High School in 1949. Following his education, he helped on the farm. On January 16, 1951, he entered the U.S. Army National Guard. He was united in marriage to Doris Bruns on April 4, 1951 at Camp Rucker, Alabama where he was called into service during the Korean War. On September 22, 1952, he returned to Minnesota and served in the National Guard until he was discharged on June 1, 1953. Following his discharge, he returned to the family farm in Troy Township and continued farming. During this time, he started as an insurance adjuster at Sweet Township Mutual Fire Insurance Company. During his time with Sweet Township he held several offices beginning in 1970 until the time of his reluctant retirement in 2013. In December, 1992, they moved into Pipestone but he continued to help his son farm. In January of 2001 Doris preceded him in death. On February 14, 2002 he was united in marriage to Mildred Dockstader at First Lutheran Church in Pipestone. Earlier in 2021 Tom’s health began to decline. He entered the care of the Pipestone County Medical Center and died there peacefully on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at the age of 90 years.

George was a member of First Lutheran Church in Pipestone. He was also a member of the Michael Boock American Legion Post #6 in Pipestone, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hope Lodge #89, and the Pipestone Golden K. He enjoyed fishing, doing yard work, watering and tending to the garden, and shaking dice and drinking coffee at Lange’s Café.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife Mildred, of Pipestone; children, Gloria (Craig) Beckner of Banner, Wyoming, Gayle (Mike) Robinson of Maple Grove, Minnesota, Tom (Kim) Carstensen of Buffalo, Minnesota, and Doug Carstensen of Pipestone; step-children, Ron Dockstader of Gilbert, Arizona, Bill (Deb) Dockstader of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Rock Dockstader of Minneapolis, Minnesota; eleven grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Charles (Janet) Carstensen of Rochester, Minnesota and William Carstensen of Pipestone, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; one sister, Nyla (Elmer) Prinsen; and one sister-in-law, Sandra Carstensen.