Carla Leona Alida Nerison Tolo was born April 3, 1906, in Lakota, N.D., to Sarah and John Nerison. Her brother was Clarence and her sister Mabel. After early schooling, Carla attended Minot State Teachers College, earning a certificate to teach home economics. She graduated from the University of North Dakota in the thirties and taught school in Montana, Oregon, and North Dakota.

On June 15, 1938, Carla and Realf Tolo were married in Minneapolis. In 1940 their first daughter, Carol Rea, was born in Austin. Sad to say, Carol died at 3 1/2 years old, at the same time their second daughter Betty was born in 1944. At that time Realf was a Navy officer stationed in Bismarck. After the military, Carla, Realf and Betty moved to Chicago where Realf attended Northern College of Optometry. During the Chicago years, Carla taught school. From Chicago they moved to Minneapolis and on to Albert Lea where Realf had his optometry practice from 1949 to 1964. While in Albert Lea, Carla was very active in teaching, PTA, and helping Realf at the office. She was on the board of the National Auxiliary to the American Optometric Association for eight years.

After Realf died in 1964, Carla moved to Ames, Iowa, to be with Betty at Iowa State. From 1965 to 1971, she was a housemother for sorority and fraternities in Ames, Lincoln, Fort Collins and Albuquerque.

Carla moved to Sun City in 1978. She thoroughly enjoyed Arizona living, especially all the activities at church and Palmolillo Condo. Carla was buried in Albert Lea at Graceland Cemetery on Nov. 25, 2003, to be with her husband Realf and her sister, Mabel Nerison Fuller.

Carla is survived by her daughter, Betty Rossum; son-in-law, David Rossum; grandson, Kelly Rossum of Minneapolis; and granddaughter, Sonja Barber of Lincoln, Neb.