Merlin Stone

Merlin Stone, age 75, of East Grand Forks, MN, formerly of Thief River Falls, MN and Erskine, MN, passed away on Friday, January 10th, at his home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 18th, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Mentor with Father Larry Delaney and Father Dave Super Concelebrating. Interment will be in St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery, Mentor. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the Mass on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Erskine and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Merlin Joel Stone was born on September 26, 1949, to Theodore R and Margaret (Poppler) Stone in Clearwater Hospital in Bagley, Minnesota. He grew up in Lengby, Minnesota and attended Fosston Public School and graduated with the class of 1967.

Following graduation, he began his working career for Larson Lumber Mill in Bagley. Then he moved to M+D Auto Sales. In 1984 he opened Merlin’s Auto Sales with his fiancé Dottie Carlson.

On June 16, 1984, he married Dorothy “Dottie” Burrell Carlson and became the blessed father of 4 children, Leslie, Laurie, Lesa, and Robert.

Merlin remained in business until the flood of 1997 and then started working for Northern Motors in Thief River Falls until his retirement in 2011.

While waiting for his wife to retire, he continued to work part time at 1st Great Lakes Airline and then Challenger Elementary School until 2018 when he became too ill to continue to work.

During his life he coached Legion Baseball in Winger. He was a school board member for Erskine Public Schools where he helped form the baseball program. He also taught Sunday School at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. For years he was involved with the Erskine Water Carnival. He was also very proud of playing Santa Claus for many years. 

Anyone who knew Merlin knows he loved playing pool and sports was his all-time favorite pastime. Merlin enjoyed coaching his son and watching football and baseball events. He also enjoyed watching his daughters cheerleading and other sports activities. His idea of a good life and what made him happy was attending many activities for his kids and grandkids including baseball, football, wrestling, swimming, basketball, softball, tennis, dance, plays, volleyball, gymnastics, and scouts.

He will be missed by all of us!!!

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy “Dottie” of East Grand Forks, MN; four children, Leslie (Gary Laidley) Fisher of Thief River Falls, MN, Laurie (Bill) Forest of Fort Lupton, CO, Lesa Page of Panama City Beach, FL, and Robert (Heather) Carlson of West Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Bailee (Austin) Audette, Morgan Nordheim, Ridge Fisher, Hope Hickman, Tiana Hickman, Kayleigh Hickman, Cole Forest, Bernt (Rachel) Bratager, Alexzander (Ella) Page, Quinten Page, Bryanna (Nash) Perrigo, Abigail Carlson, and Katilyn Carlson; two great-grandchildren, Porter Perrigo and Oaklyn Forest. Brother Michael(Donna) Stone, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Walter and Maryannette Burrell, sister-in-law Beverly Boothman, and sister-in-law Marilyn(Dave) Bauer.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, James Joel Carlson; great-grandson, Clyde Perrigo; brother, David; and sister, Agnes Stone; brother-in-law Fred Boothman, brother-in-law and sister-in-law James and Dianna Werfelman.