Carol Sahlstrom

Carol Sahlstrom, age 86, of Milaca, passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, August 21, 2026. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 11 AM at Milaca Evangelical Free Church. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. All are invited to a luncheon following the services.

Carol Louise Sahlstrom was born to Lewis and Charlotte (Bailey) Wolbert on January 29, 1940, in Milaca, Minnesota. The third of five children. She attended District 6 and District 9 Country Schools and then graduated from the Milaca High School in 1958. She traveled one year with God‘s Invasion Army (a Baptist Church Mission). She knocked on doors sharing the gospel and joined in singing at the many churches they visited.

While working as a carhop at the local drive-in, she met Paul Sahlstrom, and they were united in marriage on October 20, 1961, and were blessed with 59 years together. Their first years together, they lived in Willow River and added John and Carla to their family. Then they moved back to Milaca, bought a farm, and they added Joe, Sam, and Rachel.

Carol cherished being a wife, mother, and homemaker. She loved her own children and grandchildren, but also the many nieces, nephews, and other young people that joined around the kitchen table. Some of these came and made their home there for a while! She was a great hostess and cook and loved to entertain people for most every Sunday dinner. The door was always open, the coffee was always on, and there were always homemade cookies or pie ready to serve.

Carol was a longtime member of the Milaca Evangelical Free Church. She loved being a Sunday school teacher, Pioneer Girls leader, worked in serving committees, the White Cross, and led and participated in women’s Bible studies. She also served with BSF Bible studies, the Princeton-Milaca Christian Women’s Club, and served with jail ministries. At 80, she went to Haiti on her first foreign missions trip to teach sewing skills to the ladies. Carol found Jesus as her Lord and Savior at a young age, and she wanted to love Him, serve Him, and make Him known.

Carol was a gifted artist and made porcelain dolls and hand-painted china. She also loved to sew. She made many quilts, sweater mittens, and American Girl doll clothes. She and Paul had a booth at the Minnesota State Fair for 13 years selling her beautiful, handcrafted items. They loved to visit with the people who stopped by to see them.

Carol is survived by her children, John (Lynne) Sahlstrom, Carla (Marklan) Shir, Joe (Deb) Sahlstrom, Sam (Melissa) Sahlstrom, Rachel (Scott) Gutlovics; 38 grandchildren, Tessica (Jamie) Trudell, Nathaniel (Kirsten) Sahlstrom, Kate (Luke) Gronning, Timon (Megan) Sahlstrom, Darren (Kim) Sahlstrom, Luke (Anna) Sahlstrom, Hannah Shir, Stephen (Betsy) Shir, Julia (Tesfaye) Hallo, Matthias (Jemina) Shir, Joseph and Titus Shir, Gavin Sahlstrom, Hailey (Nathaniel) Cotter, Logan (Hailey) Sahlstrom, Britta (Ryan) Erickson, Kiaya (Jon) Hall, Joash Sahlstrom, Caleb (Hope) Sahlstrom, Aretae Sahlstrom, Frank Garner and Alexander Shrake, Ben (Naomi) Sahlstrom, Annika (Nate) Carson, Charisma (Luke) Schneidermann, Becca (Josiah) Stangl, Reuben (Larissa) Sahlstrom, Amelia (Carson) Cutler, Katrina (Nathanael) Wissman, Erina (Sawyer Sandal), Simeon Sahlstrom, Johann Sahlstrom, Alaina Sahlstrom, Hayden (Corey) Kuchler, Jack (Kori) Gutlovics, Grace Gutlovics (Joe Allen), William and Anna Gutlovics; 76 great-grandchildren and more on the way; her brothers, Marlyn Wolbert and Warren (Mary Lou) Wolbert, brother-in-law, Lester Anderson, along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Paul Sahlstrom; sisters, Arlyss Anderson and Lois Stokke, sister-in-law, Marlys Wolbert; brother-in-law, John (Dorothy) Sahlstrom and sister-in-law, Mary (Ed) Eisenzimmer.