Evelyn Ruth Karlson

Evelyn Ruth "Ev" (Benson) Karlson, whose boundless energy and loving spirit earned her the nickname "Energizer Bunny," died peacefully at the Ginger Cove Continuing Care Retirement Community in Annapolis after a courageous battle with metastatic colon cancer. Born on November 6, 1935, to Gulli and Oscar Benson in Weymouth, MA, Evelyn grew up in a close-knit family on Smith Street in Quincy, MA with her parents and three brothers Stan, Ken, and Bert.

A talented performer from her youth, Evelyn served as a lead Majorette at Quincy High School, where she graduated in 1953. Her lifelong passion for music began in these early years and remained central throughout her life. Evelyn mastered both the piano and accordion, sharing her musical gifts generously with family and friends.

After high school, Evelyn worked as an office secretary in the Quincy area before marrying her high school sweetheart, Edward Sulo "Ed" Karlson, on August 9, 1958. Together they built a beautiful life and family, welcoming three children: Bill in 1960, David in 1961, and Karalyn in 1966.

Evelyn's life was defined by her selfless devotion to others. While raising her three children in Bowie, MD, she created a home filled with love, music, and faith. In 1963, Evelyn was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church, where she became an active and beloved member of the choir for many years, bringing joy to all who heard her sing. Through the years, she was a member of many choral groups. Her longest association was with the Bowie Sounds of Music, before concluding her choral journey with the Bowie Senior Chorale. Music remained a cornerstone of Evelyn's life as she shared her love of piano with her daughter, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter.

A woman of many talents and endless energy, Evelyn balanced family life with various professional roles, including providing aftercare for local children, working at Peebles Department Store in Bowie, and providing administrative support for Moeller Pools in Annapolis, the Franz, Warrick, and Strack CPA firm in Bethesda, and for a Severna Park real estate company. Evelyn also served as a den mother for Bill and David’s Cub Scouts pack and as a host for Karalyn’s local Camp Fire Girls group, nurturing not only her own children but many others in her community.

An adventurous soul, Evelyn enjoyed exploring the world through decades of cruises with her husband Ed, visiting Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. She also cherished annual family vacations to Pembroke, MA, and once embarked on a memorable five-week, cross-country family journey. She had a love for not only exploring the cultures of other countries, but her own Scandinavian heritage, which she shared with her family.

In 1989, Evelyn and Ed moved to the Annapolis Landing community in Riva, MD, where they enjoyed 30 years of life in retirement and provided community support for many. In 2019, the couple moved into independent living at the Ginger Cove Continuing Care Retirement Community in Annapolis. Evelyn became good friends with many other women at Ginger Cove, including many of whom she knew from Bowie.

Evelyn's warmth and thoughtfulness touched everyone she met. She was beautiful inside and out, known for putting others' needs before her own. Her faith guided her actions, and she served her church, Grace Lutheran Church in Bowie for 50+ years, with unwavering dedication.

Evelyn is pre-deceased by her husband of 62 years, Edward Sulo Karlson, who passed away in December 2020, as well as her parents Gulli and Oscar Benson; brothers Stanley, Kenneth, and Bertil; sisters-in-law Geraldine Benson, Norma (Benson) Tuori, and Paula (Karlson) Barkley; and brother-in-law Ronald Karlson.

She leaves behind a legacy of love through her children Bill Karlson of Millersville, MD, Dave Karlson of Wilmington, NC, and Karalyn (Karlson) Mulligan of Edgewater, MD; daughters-in-law Theresa (Mills) Karlson and Lynetta (Almony) Karlson; son-in-law Rick Mulligan; sister-in-law Carol Karlson; six grandchildren—Casey Karlson, Kenna (Karlson) Stacks and husband Brad Stacks, Calvin Karlson and wife Samantha (Miller) Karlson, Paige Mulligan, Keri Mulligan, and Adam Karlson; three great-grandchildren—Arya Stacks, Madelynne Karlson, and Mylo Stacks; and many beloved Karlson and Benson relatives in the U.S., Sweden, and Finland.

Visitations will be held at Beall Funeral Home at 6512 NW Crain Highway, Bowie, MD 20715 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 15. On Friday, May 16, a memorial service celebrating Evelyn's remarkable life will be held at Grace Lutheran Church at 11:30 a.m. Grace, which she attended for over 50+ years, is located at 2503 Belair Dr., Bowie, MD 20715. Following the service, a procession will make a short drive to Lakemont Memorial Gardens Cemetery at 900 W Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD 21035, where Evelyn will be interred next to her husband, Ed. All who knew and loved Evelyn are welcome to attend the visitations, memorial service, and burial.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Memory of Evelyn R. Karlson to the Ginger Cove Foundation at https://www.gingercove.com/charitable-giving/ or to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at https://t2t.org/donate/.

To offer condolences and memory messages to the Karlson family, please visit https://www.beallfuneral.com/obituaries.