Sylvia Carsen

Sylvia Carsen, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on Saturday, July 23rd after a battle with cancer. Sylvia was born on May 10, 1932 to Carl Felix and Ruth (Dahlberg) Bengtson in Galesburg, Illinois. Like her mother, Sylvia exhibited an artistic talent from an early age. She attended public schools and graduated from Galesburg High School, where she served as editor of the yearbook. She entered Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, concentrating on the arts, working in the mediums of watercolor, pastel, and oil. She graduated from Augustana College in 1954 with a B.A. in Humanities. In 1954, Sylvia married her classmate, Kenneth Carsen, who graduated with a B.A. in History and a desire to be a minister. Kenneth continued his education at Augustana Theological Seminary, and served as minister at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Carleton, Minnesota; Salem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and St. Mark Lutheran Church in Circle Pines, Minnesota. Sylvia went on to study at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She began her career as a commercial illustrator at WHBF-TV and J.J. Case Farm Implement Company, both in Rock Island, Illinois. She worked as an advertising artist for McFarland Advertising in San Francisco, Boon Advertising in Davenport, Iowa, and Weigen Illusion Graphics in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her career as a commercial illustrator really blossomed when she began producing art for school programs and test materials for American Guidance Service in Circle Pines, Minnesota, where she worked for the majority of her career. She has also been hired as a freelance artist creating key-lined catalogues and giftware for Coynes's Gift Ware in Minneapolis, Minnesota and designing lighted porcelain Christmas villages and holiday giftware for Seasonal Specialties, LLC, in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Sylvia had a solo exhibition at Gallery 5004 in Robinsdale in June 2016, and has exhibited at the Ramsey Center for the Arts in Shoreview, Minnesota; Robbin Gallery in Robinsdale, Minnesota; Blaine City Hall in Blaine, Minnesota; and the Banfill Co-op Drawing Show in Cambridge, Minnesota. Sylvia says of her art, "My paintings are a reflection of my love for the world. If you look carefully, everything is beautiful. I want to hold on to it." A�a,AShe spent her retirement in Fridley, Minnesota, where she enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and many friends. Sylvia was preceded in death by both her mother and father; her husband, Kenneth; her brother, Jan; and her beloved granddaughter, Olivia. She is survived by her four children and spouses, Todd Carsen, Lori Carsen Kelly and Thomas Kelly, Brett and Mary Carsen, and Dane and Kelli Carsen; her five grandchildren, Christian, Sean, and Matthew Kelly, Max Carsen, and Caden Carsen; and relatives and friends. Visitation will take place on Thursday, July 28th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Miller Funeral Home in Fridley, Minnesota and Funeral Services will be held on Friday, July 29th at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Donations can be made to the Sylvia Carsen Memorial Fund for the Arts.