Velva 'Mickie' Carlson

Velva V. "Mickie" Carlson, 90, of Sioux City died Tuesday, March 3, 2015, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home.
Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Holy Spirit Retirement Home chapel, with the Rev. Dennis Meinen officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. until service time Saturday at the chapel. Arrangements are under the direction of Larkin Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Mickie was born on Aug. 22, 1924, in Avon, S.D., to Willard and Helena (Genant) Luke. She attended Yankton (S.D.) County Public Schools.
She married William M. "Bill" Carlson on Sept. 20, 1946, in Elk Point, S.D. They were married for nearly 65 years until Bill's death on March 20, 2011. The couple moved to Sioux City and eventually made their home on South Judd Street, where they became a second set of parents to the little girl across the street, Barbara M. "Barbie" (Dagle) Vakulskas. Bill and Mickie became adoptive grandparents, great-grandparents, and in-laws to the various members of the Vakulskas family, and godparents to Barb's older son, Brian.
Mickie's love of animals occupied a major portion of her life. From the various pets she and Bill rescued over the years to the adopted neighborhood strays, she would never leave an animal injured, cold or hungry.
She devoted more than two decades of her life volunteering weekly at Mercy Medical Center, pushing the candy cart throughout the facility and selling sweets to the staff and patients. She and Bill spent a great deal of time traveling throughout South Dakota. They were regulars at their favorite restaurants in Yankton, including The Quarry and The Library, and locally at Green Gables. Mickie would always leave pieces of candy in addition to the monetary tip for the wait staff. She never left her Yankton area roots, as she routinely read weekly columns penned by historical author Bob Karolevitz in the Yankton Press & Dakotan.
She is survived by her adopted Vakulskas family, Barb (Tom) Vakulskas, Brian Vakulskas, Molly (Eric, Alainna, Jack and Will) Vakulskas Joly, and Daniel (Nikki and Sam) Vakulskas; and special cousins, Dick Haro and Laura Martin.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband.
The family would like to thank the entire Holy Spirit Retirement Home community for the caring love and support given to Mickie following Bill's death and while she was a resident of the facility.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Holy Spirit Retirement Home Service Club, The House of Mary Shrine in Yankton, and the Siouxland Humane Society.