Kristy Ann (Raan) Carlson, 56, of Battleview, ND passed away after a courageous battle with brain cancer, on November 26th, 2017 surrounded by her loving family at the Tioga Medical Center. Her final days were spent with family and friends that Kristy had touched throughout her life. She gave us all such courage and hope and reminded us of the preciousness of life.

Kristy was born February 20th, 1961, the daughter of the late Odin and Mabel (Thompson) Raan. She was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in White Earth. She attended White Earth School and graduated from Tioga High School in 1979. She then attended Williston State College.

Kristy had many lights in her life, but the two brightest were her beautiful daughters Lindsey Maureen, born February 1986 and Cassie Faye born August 1990. They meant the world to her and were the joy of her life. Throughout her lifetime, she put her heart and soul into each and every job to provide for her girls including sales, housekeeping at the Kenmare Hospital, and most recently catering events with her fabulous food and working at the Country Fresh Foods in Powers Lake.

On August 16th, 2003 Kristy married the love of her life, Mark Carlson, in Powers Lake. They made the family farm their home. Mark was Kristy’s rock and stepped into the role of dad and grandpa without hesitation. He continuously stood by her side making her laugh and calming her when she needed it most. She trusted and loved him with all her heart, and was her source of comfort.
Kristy was a devoted and loving wife, mother, sister, grandma, aunt, and friend. She had a fierce love for her family and was a very proud Grandma to her 5 grandchildren. Being a grandma was her biggest pride in life. She had a knack for making them feel special. One example was bringing cupcakes for the entire school for Eastlin’s birthday. She always treated all her great nieces and great nephews as if they were her own grandkids, and loved when they called her “Auntie Gramma." Kristy loved holidays and family get-togethers; any chance to spend time with her family was important to her. She would spend hours cooking and preparing for her company. She loved nothing more than a room full of family and a couple of pinochle games going on with the Viking game in the background. Kristy felt whole when surrounded by family – her children, her grandchildren, her siblings and her nieces and nephews.

Kristy had a special place in her heart for her sons-in-law, Jordan and Zach. She truly loved them like sons. It meant so much and gave Kristy peace knowing that both Lindsey and Cassie and her grandchildren will always be taken care of.

Besides entertaining her family, Kristy’s passions included cooking, carrying on the tradition of making Mabel's "famous" lefsa and delicious buns, fishing with her brothers Gary and Rick, spending time with her sister Sherrie and sisters-in-law Linda Faye and Shelly, Christmas time and giving to others, shopping in general-especially Black Friday, attending many Vikings games and spoiling their fur baby Izzy. Taking a trip to Hawaii with her lifelong friend Toni during her illness meant the world to her. Kristy was always kind hearted and welcoming to everyone she met, and to know her was to love her. She always put everyone else before herself.

Kristy was survived by her loving husband Mark, her daughters Lindsey (Jordan) Jensen of Powers Lake and Cassie Faye (Zach) Kemmer of Bismarck, her Grandchildren Eastlin, Jace, Gage, and Kyson Jensen and Henley Kemmer, her brothers Gary (Linda Faye) Raan and Ricky (Shelly) Raan, and her sister Sherrie (Dean) Lund all of Tioga, her mother-in-law Ellen Carlson of Powers Lake, sisters-in law Debbie Carlson (Rick) of Grand Forks and Karen(Bob) Holte of Minot, her special nieces and nephews, and countless cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Mabel and Odin Raan, her father-in-law Donald Carlson, and special cousin Debbie Thompson Ness.

Kristy’s life would seem too short to many, but those who were touched by her understood that the quality far exceeds the quantity of time in which one lives.

Kristy will be forever remembered by her husband and best friend Mark, and their precious daughters, Lindsey and Cassie along with her extended family and friends.