Carol Lynn Mergen was born in Sioux Falls on March 29, 1942, and died February 25, 2017 at her home on Lake Zumbro, Minn. at the age of 74. She was raised by her parents, Viola and Vernon Christophersen on a family dairy farm near Brookings.
Carol attended grade school in a one-room rural school followed by her graduation from Brookings High School in 1960. After attending South Dakota State College, she began her career at the Argus Leader Newspaper in Sioux Falls.
While living in Sioux Falls, she met Del and they married in 1965.
They lived in Nebraska, St. Paul, Minn., West Virginia and later settled in Rochester, Minn., where they raised their three children.
In 1978, they moved to Lake Zumbro and later wintered in Pine Island, Fla.
Carol loved her family, her country, and was very involved with her children and grandchildren. She taught them to garden, sew, cook and by her example to be involved with their country, neighbors, friends, and family.
She enjoyed reading, playing cards and crossword puzzles. She was especially appreciative of their travels to Europe, Asia, and South America; however her favorites were Australia and New Zealand.
Carol is survived by her husband, Del, and their three children: daughter, Shannon (Mark) Larsen of Rochester and children Caitlin and Chance; son, Ken (Melissa) Mergen of Lake Zumbro and children Carmen and Thomas; daughter, Monica Magnuson of St. Paul and children Logan and Miranda. She is also survived by her brother, James (Erma) Christophersen of Brookings.
She was preceded in death by her parents and son-in-law Steve Magnuson.
Funeral Mass will be Saturday, March 18, 2017, at 1 p.m. at Pax Christi Catholic Church, 4135 18th Ave NW, Rochester, Minn., followed by a celebration of life at the Elks Lodge. A celebration of life will also be held in Pine Island, Fla., on her birthday March 29, 2017, at 3 p.m. at the American Legion.
Memorials may be designated to Lake Zumbro Forever.
