Caledonia Argus

Posted: 3/19/02

Carl H. Ask

Carl H. Ask Sr., 86, a lifelong resident and farmer of the Houston area, died Sunday, March 10, 2002, at the Franciscan-Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Carl was born at home in Corey Valley to Haakron and Karen (Hansen) Ask on September 14, 1915. He grew up in Campbell Valley where he attended the Cooper School. He helped with farm chores and field work at an early age and left home at age 13 to work as a farm hand. At the encouragement of his employer, he attended Houston High School and graduated in 1935. He lived with the Curt Anderson family in Swede Bottom his senior year where he worked for his room and board. The following year he and his brother Roy were asked to farm the E.O. Benson farm. Carl continued there until he bought a farm in Campbell Valley in 1948. In 1976 he bought the Benson farm in Swede Bottom and moved there in 1977. Carl married Ellinore Busness on June 7, 1945, in La Crosse.

He was a member of the Houston Baptist Church. Carl loved his church and served there in many ways as Vice Chairman, Deacon, Trustee, and Sunday School teacher through the years and touched many lives. He was a charter member of the Houston-Winona Gideon Camp, a member of and clerk for the Money Creek School Board for 15 years, an insurance agent for many years for Waseca and Rollingstone Mutual Insurance companies, a 4-H member and leader, actively involved in Farm Bureau and also a member of the Midland Board.

Carl is survived by his wife; four children, Karen (Gary) Robertson, Monmouth, IL, Karla (Dallas) Nelson, Carl (Bonnie) Ask Jr., both of Houston, and Candace Gittens, Hokah; three brothers, Roy (Persis) Ask, Houston, Walter (Betty) Ask, St. Charles, and Lyle Ask, Rochester; six sisters, Alma Eberhard, Houston, Hazel (Harry) McElmury, Lakeville, Velma (Dan) Degallier, Winona, Esther Feine, Cortez, CO, Carol (Loren) Kilstofte, Pueblo, CO, and Anita (Craig) Currier, Pittsburgh, KS; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Hardy Napstad, Florence Votruba and Evelyn Millen.

Services were held at 2:30 pm, Wednesday, March 13, at the Houston Baptist Church in Houston with the Rev. Donald Range officiating. Burial was in the Swede Bottom Cemetery in rural Houston. Friends called from 5-8 pm on Tuesday, at Hoff Funeral Homes-Houston Chapel and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church.

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