Robert H. Carleton

Robert Hazen Carleton, 93, of Good Thunder, MN passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 at the home of his youngest son, Bryan in Circle Pines, MN. 

Born to Hazen and Ada Cairncross Carleton on February 8th, 1925 in St. Paul, Robert was the oldest of four children raised in Duluth, MN.  He graduated from Central High School and joined the US Army Air Corps, serving overseas in India as a Medic, Dental Technician and a Chaplain’s Assistant.  In 1946, upon returning home from the war, he married Billie MacPherson of Fredonia, Kansas and went on to raise six children.   Robert graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Agriculture Economics in 1950 and they farmed the land near Good Thunder that was settled by his Great Great Grandpa Abial Wood.  He also was an Ag teacher in Mankato teaching veterans returning from the war during this time. 

Robert was active in politics and wrote many Letters to the Editor throughout the years.  He was also quite an entrepreneur.   In 1965, on a trip to Central America, he became interested in farming in Guatemala.  First by starting a rubber plantation in the Petén area and then later by driving machinery down to raise soybeans and cattle.  Many years were spent farming in both Minnesota and Guatemala.  

In 1980 Robert married Ana Valle Morales of Jutiapa, Guatemala.  They farmed in Missouri and near Good Thunder raising three sons together on the family farm.

During the mid-1980s Robert began working as a rural mail carrier for the US Postal Service in Wells, MN.  As a rural mail carrier, Robert maintained a fleet of Volkswagen Rabbit Diesels that he would race through 5 gears between country mailboxes. 

After retiring from over 50 years of farming and 10 years of delivering the mail, Robert enjoyed traveling to spend time with his family on the West Coast and to weddings in Europe.  He spent his summers on his farm hosting his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins, regaling them with stories of his life’s adventures. 

Robert is survived by his wife Ana, sister-in-law Barbara; 9 children, Susan (Raymond) Jirele, Margaret Franzen, Stuart (Genette) Carleton, Jacqueline Noy, Bruce (Diane) Carleton, Douglas (Debra) Carleton, Juan (Elisabeth) Carleton, Steven (Christina) Carleton, Bryan (Vilayvanh) Carleton; 35 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary, brother-in-law Jim Glick, and his brothers Richard and William; son-in-law David Noy and grandson-in-law Joseph P. Morey lll.  

A Celebration of Life and Faith will be held at 11:00 am Monday, January 28th at the First Presbyterian Church in Mankato with Pastor Lindsay Conrad officiating.  Visitation will be from 3-6 pm Sunday, January 27th at the Mankato Mortuary on Riverfront and one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church.   Burial will be at Glenwood Cemetery in Mankato immediately following the service.