William "Bill" Edmund Carlson, Jr. 91, of Mitchell, SD died Friday, August 24, 2018 at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell, SD. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at Will Funeral Chapel with burial and military honors at Servicemen's Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at the Will Funeral Chapel.

William "Bill" Edmund Carlson, Jr. son of William E. and Elsie A. (Langley) Carlson, was born April 14, 1927 in Mitchell, SD. Bill grew up in Mitchell. He attended First United Methodist Church and was active in the children's choir and later in the adult choir. Bill graduated from Mitchell High School. He entered the US Army Air Corp in July 15, 1945 and served as an airplane mechanic. Bill was honorably discharged on December 8, 1946.

Bill was united in marriage with Elsie L. Franek on August 23, 1948 in Luverne, MN. To this union six children were born.

Bill loved to drive and worked at various driving jobs beginning in his teens, working for a creamery. After his discharge from the service, he drove a tank truck for Miller Brothers and then worked for Jack Rabbit Bus Lines where he drove nearly 3,000,000 miles doing both routes and charters. Bill drove for many of our high school and college music and band groups including a trip to the Rose Bowl, as well as several COOP trips. He loved to work with young people. Bill has driven in Canada and Mexico as well as through all of the states except Hawaii and said that if he could find a road, he would drive to Hawaii as well.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Elsie Carlson; his children, Denise (Delmond) Fluth, William (Bonita) Carlson, Cleve (Jody) Carlson, Steven (Sandy) Carlson, Charles (Judy) Carlson; a son-in-law, Bill Wagner; nine grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Sheryl; a granddaughter, Stephany Carlson; his sister, Darlene Hvam; five brothers-in-law, four sisters-in-law.