(Ernie) Ernest Rudolph Carlson was born in Rich Valley, Alberta the eldest of George & Anna on Nov. 1st, 1914. He was to be a Lutheran Minister when his uncle Andy Anderson asked him to come to Burns Lake & work in his trucking business. In 1942 he & Leonard Radley bought Rudy Motors Garage. In 1946 he & his brother Emmett operated Carlson Brothers Trucking. For 37 he was a supervisor of transportation for School District #55. In 1942 he married Margaret VanTine. They raised 5 children. Ernie was well known for his remarkable strength & expertise as a mechanic & carpenter & his incredible ability to invent, design, create & fix most anything. When only 14 he made a spinning wheel for his Mother. Later he built a steam engine (to scale) for the enjoyment of his children. When he needed parts for his sawmill & planer - he made them on his old turning lathe himself. He was still running his sawmill at the age of 92 on his own. Just the day before he was sent to Prince George for an emergency operation he was out in his shop building for his youngest great granddaughter. He made many stools & vegetable boxes to donate to the Terry Fox Run, Rotary & Kin clubs over the years. He built most of the furniture in his children and grandchildren homes. He was never heard to complain, raise his voice or criticize. He had amazing patience, dignity, honesty, integrity, loyalty and a unique sense of humour. He was a true gentleman & gave us all his steady unconditional love - he will always be with us. He is survived by his children , sons - George (Trish), Marvin, Charlie (Carla), daughter Judy Payne (Rod), Darlene Hinz (Gerry), his 12 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, relatives & friends. He was predeceased by his parents, sisters Elsa & Margeth, brother Emmett, grandson David. His funeral was held in the 1st Mennonite Church, Jan. 28, 2009 with Rev. Fletcher. His grandsons Darin Payne & Michael Carlson spoke eloquently from their hearts. His granddaughter Raina honoured him with the Lords Prayer in Swedish. Bob Saul kindly gave the Eulogy, Hugh Neave spoke as an old friend. Pall Bearers were grandsons - Ron & Darin Payne, Christopher & Tyson Carlson, Bobby Hinz, Adam & Mike Carlson. Honorary Pall Bearers - Jim VanTine, Bill Gilgan, Bob Saul, Roddy Payne, Jim Everett, Hugh Neave, Bill Waldron and Wally Bridal.