Carolyn Elaine Wallner Babcock died suddenly on May 28th in the Sidney Memorial Hospital due to an aortic aneurysm. Her family is heartbroken at her sudden passing. She will be missed by many.
Carolyn was born on October 3, 1943 to Otto and Laurena Boeder Wallner in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota. She was the fourth of five children to join the family. She loved being the only girl and growing up with her four brothers in Enderlin, North Dakota.
Carolyn graduated from Enderlin High School in 1961 and then attended St. Josef’s Cosmetology School in Fargo, North Dakota where she earned her cosmetology degree. Even though she never worked in a salon, she enjoyed giving her daughters and friends perms and haircuts at her kitchen table.
On June 8, 1963, she married Kenneth Babcock in Enderlin, North Dakota. This was the beginning of a dedicated marriage that lasted eleven days short of 63 years. Throughout their marriage, Carolyn and Ken remained committed and continued to bring out the best in each other. Their loyalty inspired Carolyn’s daughters to both wear her wedding dress at their own weddings. Ken was by Carolyn’s side until the very end.
Carolyn and Ken made their home in Fairview where Ken was a teacher for 36 years and Carolyn worked various jobs including running a daycare, cleaning the church, cooking at the school, and owning an exercise business while maintaining a spotless home for her family.
But, the job Carolyn was most proud about was raising three kids with Ken: Lynn of Fairview, Lori of Kalispell and Steve of Billings. Carolyn was extremely proud that all three children graduated from Fairview High School and went on to earn college degrees. Carolyn was known to brag about her daughters, who are teachers, and her son, who is a lawyer.
Carolyn had a love of cooking and was often found watching cooking shows on TV. She cooked for her family everyday and she was always excited to try a new recipe, which Ken was always willing to eat. Carolyn and Ken’s rule was that the family had to eat at the table together every evening. Carolyn and Ken continued to eat at the table together until the very end.
Anyone that talked to Carolyn for any length of time would often remark about her quick wit and sarcasm. She was known for her sense of humor and ability to put someone in their place with one of her one-liners. She loved to laugh and reminisce with friends and family. Her laugh and smile were contagious.
Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents (Otto and Laurena), three of her brothers and one sister-in-law (Roger, Howard, Myron and Joyce), her in-laws (Charlie and Arlene), her sister-in-law and brother-in-law (Charlene and Harvey), and many close friends.
She is survived by her husband (Ken), her youngest brother and sister-in-law (Dennis and Vickie), her oldest daughter and son-in-law (Lynn and Dell), her second daughter and son-in-law (Lori and Greg) and her son and daughter-in-law (Steven and Kimberly) and many nieces and nephews. She was extremely proud of her 7 grandchildren and their spouses (Cattie and Mark, Cody, Kyle, Brock and Natalie, Mac, Charlie, Josie). For the last two years, she was thrilled to become a great-grandma to McKenzie Cole (Cattie and Mark’s daughter). Up until the very end, she was constantly asking what McKenzie was doing and loved spending time with her.
On June 11th, Fulkerson Funeral Home in Sidney will be hosting a viewing of Carolyn from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All are welcome. On June 12th, the family asks you to join them to celebrate Carolyn’s life at Zion Lutheran Church at 11:00 a.m. followed by lunch and conversation at the Waterhole in Fairview.