Carol L Naig

Memorial Services for Carol Louise Naig will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the West Zion Lutheran Church in Hancock, Minnesota, Reverend Steve Carmany officiating. A visitation will be held on Friday, March 15, 2024, from 4 to 7:00 p.m. at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Inurnment will take place on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at the West Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in Hancock. 

Carol Louise Gilbertson was born September 20, 1944 at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis MN to Olaf and A. Katherine (Dahl) Gilbertson.  She grew up in South Minneapolis and attended Hiawatha Grade School, Nokomis Jr High School and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1962.  She attended one year at Augsburg College and graduated from Lutheran Deaconess School of Nursing in 1966.  Her first job as an RN was at the Minneapolis VA Hospital. She then went to St. Gabriel Hospital in California. Returning to MN she worked at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital, Eitel Hospital and Meadowbrook Treatment Center finishing up her career with 36 years with the American Red Cross Blood Services.  She lived in Minneapolis, Eagan, Waconia, Hancock and Starbuck, MN.

She was married to Sheldon Lagaard Jr. for 18 years and had three children, Sheldon III, Kristin and Karin.  In 1986, she married Jim Naig. Carol enjoyed being on or near the lake, bonfires, thrifting and loved her Norwegian heritage and treasures.  One of her favorite travels was her trip to Norway and always looked forward to spending winter months in Arizona.  Most of all, she cherished her family unequivocally and found joy in cheering them on.

To know Carol is to have laughed with or to have shared an encouraging word, whether a close friend or stranger. Being social was a special gift upon which Carol was bestowed; those around her were drawn to her infectious and enthusiastic personality. Even in illness, Carol was never angry, sad, or depressed – she could find the silver lining to keep pushing forward in any situation and rose to meet challenges with a smile.

Carol passed away on Monday, March 11, 2024, at Holly Ridge in Starbuck surrounded by her family. She was 79 years old.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Jim Naig; her son, Sheldon (Kim) Lagaard; her daughters, Kristin (Tim) Shively and Karin (Jason) Tank, her step-children: Krista (Dwight) Hoover; Tad (Melissa) Naig; Jana (Mike) Waldrum; John (Erica) Naig; Nissa (Wade) Larson; twenty-five grandchildren and four great grandchildren whom were loved so much; her sister: Nancy Ellerbusch, beloved aunt, cousins and countless dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.  Carol was a bright light in the lives of so many people and will be forever missed.  Blessed be her memory.