Funeral services for Carol A. Gavle, age 81, of Albert Lea will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15, at Salem Lutheran Church. The Rev. Jay Dahlvang will officiate. Interment will be in Silver Lake Cemetery. Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Carol died Tuesday, April 11, 2006, at St. John’s Lutheran Home.

Carol Alvina Sorbo Gavle was born May 29, 1924, on the Ole O. Sorbo family farm near Lake Mills Iowa. Carol was the daughter of Oliver and Marie Flaten Sorbo, the youngest of four children. She was delivered by her grandma Clara Sorenson Lah Flaten.

Carol was baptized and confirmed at Silver Lake Lutheran Church, rural Northwood Iowa. She was a member of Luther League and sang in the church choir. She was also a member of Nunda 4-H Club for many years. She started school in Iowa District No.1 and later moved across the state line to Minnesota where she lived on the farm of her maternal grandparents Tom and Klara Flaten. Carol finished the eighth grade in District 105, at the Sorenson Lah School named for her great grandfather Jens Sorenson Lah, a Civil War Veteran. She graduated from Emmons High School, class of ’42.

She was united in marriage Aug. 9, 1942, to Reuben C. Gavle in a beautiful wedding in Silver Lake Lutheran Church.

They moved to Albert Lea where they raised their family. Carol had lived in the same house on Bridge Avenue for 58 years. She joined Salem Lutheran Church after her marriage and was a member of many church organizations serving as an officer in WELCA, Altar Guild and Mission Circle. Carol always enjoyed being Bible study leader.

Reuben and Carol were blessed with four children; Myreen Wedge, Karen Klassen (wife of Daniel Klassen), Darrel Gavle (husband of Susan) and Elizabeth Gavle. She is survived by Myreen, Karen and Darrel and by her grandchildren. Myreen’s children are Thomas Wedge and Elizabeth Wedge. Karen and Dan’s children are Christopher Klassen MD PhD, (wife Tammy and daughter Christina), Mark Klassen, and Kari Johnson (husband Eric and daughter Anikah and Elsa). Darrel and Susan’s children are David Gavle (wife Rachel and daughter Kirstin) and Katherine Gavle. Survivors also include four sisters-in-law, Ruth Sorbo, Lauretta Gavle, Betty Gavle, and Donna Slocum and her husband Stephen.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, husband Reuben (1998), infant daughter Elizabeth (1960), infant grandson John Scott Wedge (1970), two sisters Mildred Oakland and Thornie Runden and brother Orien Sorbo.

Carol had many interests and enjoyed traveling to Norway and Holland and most of the United States. She enjoyed genealogy and co-authored with daughter Karen two family trees going back over 1,000 years. She also helped research 100 years of U.S. and Canadian history and interesting facts with Karen and husband Dan for Hallmark Card’s Birthday and Anniversary Times. She also enjoyed writing poetry, playing cards, and being with friends and relatives but most of all she enjoyed being with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Carol had great faith and loved God with all her heart. She fought the good fight, finished the course and kept the faith.