Sheila Kay Carlson

Sheila Carlson passed away on Monday, June 29, 2026, at the age of 75 years at home in Barnesville, MN.

Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 pm, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Barnesville with Rev. Alison Haugerud officiating. Visitation will start at noon.

Sheila Kay was born on August 22, 1951, to Willie and Violet (Brasel) Rick in Perham, MN and was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

She attended K-12 school in Perham and went on to finish her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Health and Home Economics education from Concordia College in Moorhead MN. She began her teaching career in Barnesville at the High School and retired from there in 2008 after 34 years. There she taught in all three areas for which she was licensed. In addition to regular teaching activities, she was innovative in developing new options for students such as Occupational Child Care, and Personal Money Management (a Budgeting program for high school students.) In the last 10 years of teaching, she developed the River Watch program as a field water quality monitoring experience for science students. Lessons were added that integrated experiences within the Biology Curriculum. Some of the students would gather data at sites and prepare it for use. For this and students received many awards and recognition in the Red River Valley. Experiencing the “ah ha” moments with students was most rewarding and she was proud of all the accomplishments of her students.

Throughout her career she was the advisor to the American Field Service (AFS) program at school. Many international students and teachers came to the community to live and learn; and some Barnesville students also participated in exchanges. The international teacher's skills were shared with our classes to promote understanding of their cultures one person at a time. She served on the Regional AFS team in MN for all AFS students in the NW MN area.

During her career she taught CPR in the school and community as a certified instructor for Red Cross with 25 years of service. She was a Member Rights Advocate for teachers at the school.

In 1988 during an exchange to China, she met Richard Ma. He too was involved in international exchanges and in 1990 they were married in Barnesville. He completed his master’s degree here. Her marriage to Richard brought more than 35 years of happiness. In recent years they were able to enjoy trips and cruises together. There were always ongoing discussions at home about cultures, world affairs and how these impact people's lives. Together they enjoyed gardening, followed by using the vegetables for new dishes. She is remembered as Richard's wife and soul mate, a sister, a loving aunt, a friend to many, support to those who needed help when it was difficult to speak for themselves, and a colleague and educator for children.

She is survived by her husband Richard Ma, her brother Jerry Rick, her nephew Brian (Kristina) Rick, niece Jennifer (Ric) Bahe, and nephew Todd Rick, four grand nieces, Greta Bahe, Gina Bahe, Kendra Rick and Alexa Rick, and one grandnephew Mylen Rick; an aunt, Dorothy Brasel; cousins; brother and sisters-in-law in Canada and China.

Preceding her in death were her parents, aunts and uncles and three cousins.

Tribute to my beloved wife. Sheila Kay Carlson.

Thank you all for coming today to celebrate the life of my beloved wife, my soulmate, Sheila Kay Carlson.

Sheila passed away peacefully at home in Barnesville MN, on June 29th,2026, at the age of 74, after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born on Aug 22nd, 1951, in Perham, Minnesota, to Willie and Violet {Brasal} Rick. She was baptized and confirmed at St Paul’s Luteran Church. After graduation from Perham High School, she earned a Bachelor of science degree in Biology, health, and home economics education from Concordia College in Moorhead MN.

Sheila devoted her entire35 years of teaching career to Barnesville High School, retiring in 2008. She was licensed to teach Biology. Health, and Home Economics, but she was much more than a teacher. She was an innovator and a visionary. During her teaching career, Sheila developed several new courses, including Occupational Child Care and Personal Money Management., helping students learn practical life skills. She even developed her soft wear for personal money management name COLD CA$H. Years later, financial literacy became a national focus in schools. Sheila has already recognized its importance decades earlier.

In addition, during the last ten years of her career, she created the River Watch Program, giving biology students hands-on experience monitoring water quality in local rivers and tributaries. Students collected valuable data that was used by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and even local farmers would call to learn about conditions near their land. Sheila and her students received numerous awards throughout the Red River Valley.

What brought Sheila the greatest joy, however, was seeing those “aha” moments when students discovered something new. She was always proud of her students and their accomplishments.

When receiving her cancer treatment, several former students who had become nurses recognized her at the hospital. They told her how much the River Watch Program had influenced their lives and careers. Those conversations meant so much to her.

One especially meaningful gift came from her final River Watch Class of 2009. They purchased the sculpture Blossoming Heart, which can be seen on the Kosmo Funeral guestbook website. To my dear River Watch Class of 2009; thank you. You gave Sheila a gift that touched her deeply. She was always proud of all of you.

Throughout her career, Sheila also served as advisor for the American Field Service, or AFS exchange program for Barnesville High School. She welcomed international students and teachers into our small community while encouraging Barnesville students to experience the world themselves. Those small flags on the flower arrangements today represent the many countries whose students and teachers came to Barnesville because of her efforts. In her own way, she placed our small town on the world map by building understanding one person at a time.

She also served on the regional AFS team northwestern Minnesota, taught CPR for American Red Cross for 25 years. And trained and certified many members of the Barnesville Ambulance Service. She was also a strong advocate for teachers’ rights, never hesitating to stand up for what she believed was right.

In 1988, our lives changed forever. We met during a six-week educational exchange in China. We connected almost immediately. When the exchange ended, she returned to Minnesota. In a way she said, “If you like me, follow me.” So, I did. I came to Minnesota in 1989, enrolled at Moorhead State University, and completed my master’s degree. We were married here in Barnesville, in this church the next Year.

That decision gave us more than 35 wonderful years together.

After Sheila retired, she joined me in our trucking business. She handled all the administrative work, including DOT regulations, all the registration paperwork, dispatching, quarterly income taxes, and quarterly fuel tax reports. In Chinese culture, we often say the wife is the boss of the house. Sheila truly was my boss, and I was happy to work for her.

We travelled extensively in the United States. Together we travelled throughout Europe, the Caribbean, south and central America, Hawaii, Alaska, China, Hong Kong, and Canada. We learned about history, food, cultures, and people. Yet wherever we went, we were always happiest when we returned home together.

Sheila was a strong, kind, thoughtful, and generous. She always placed others before her.

Even as cancer spread, she calmly planned every detail of her funeral, wrote much of her obituary, selected photographs, organized our household files, and left me instructions for everything I would need after she was gone. She did all of this to make life easier for me.

Even in hospice care in June, she completed our business income taxes for the second quarter because she worried about deadline. She was concerned about the second quarter fuel tax report, that couldn’t be filed until the quarter ended. She passed away on June 29th.

Honey, my boss, don’t worry. I filed on July1st. No problem.

Since Sheila passed away, many people have shared wonderful memories of her on the funeral home’s guestbook. My nephew in China and my niece in Canada, who met her only a few times, wrote beautiful tributes that brought me to tears. Former students, colleagues and friends all described her the same qualities: her kindness, her warmth, and the lasting impact she had on their lives.

Reading those messages has brought me great comfort, and for that I thank all of you.

At home nothing has changed. I haven’t moved anything, just in case you come back home.

Sometimes when I must go somewhere driving, I took your purse alone, and placed it on the passenger seat, just as you rode beside me for so many years. It helps feel you are still with me.

Sheila, you were the reason I came to this country 37 years ago.

You were my beloved wife, my best friend, my soulmate, my life teacher, my greatest support, and my greatest adventure.

The world is no longer the same without you.

But I’ll carry out your wishes.

I will not let you down

I’ll honor you every day by living the life we always talked about together.

Sheila is survived by me, her husband Richard Ma; her brother Jerry Rick; her nephew Brian and his wife Kristina Rick; her niece Jennefer and her husband Ric Bahe; her nephew Todd Rick; four grandnieces, Greta Bahe; Gina Bahe; Kendra Rick; and Alexa Rick. One grandnephew Mylen Rick; alone with cousins, relatives in China and Canada, and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Violet Rick, as well as several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Sheila my beloved wife and soulmate, thank you for every ordinary day. They were never ordinary because they were spent with you.

Sleep well my love. I’ll love you for the rest of my life. I’ll miss you forever until we meet again.

Thank you all for coming today.