Connie Anne Carlson

The service may be viewed via Zoom.

Connie Anne Maxfield Carlson passed peacefully from this world on June 28, 2026, having been under the care of her two daughters and Eastern Idaho Hospice.

She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on November 4, 1941. Her father was a widower with 3 teenage children when he married Anne Kite. Curt and Anne added three daughters to the family, with Connie being the oldest. She loved to tell how she would ride the bus into downtown Salt Lake to watch a movie, and that her house was where Interstate 80 now runs through the city. In 1952, her family moved to Ucon, Idaho, where her father started a gasoline pump repair business. She loved her years in the Ucon area, creating lifelong friendships. It was in Ucon that the three sisters became known as the "Maxfield Girls." At Bonneville High School, Connie was in the Honey Bees, and she developed a special talent for twirling the baton in their performances. In 1959, she was introduced to Larry Carlson, and they began a "long-distance" romance, as Larry lived in Idaho Falls. Connie worked nights at the Paramount Theater, and Larry would come for the last 15 minutes of the show and then drive Connie home. He said he watched the end of Ben Hur at least 50 times. Connie graduated from BHS in 1960 and attended Ricks College for one semester and then went to work for the Hal Johnson Insurance Agency.

On August 25, 1961, Connie and Larry were married and left immediately for Moscow, Idaho, as Larry had a football scholarship with the Vandals and Connie went to work for a Moscow law firm. In the Spring of 1962, they returned to Idaho Falls where she went back to work for the Hal Johnson Insurance Agency until March of 1963 when their daughter, Cammie, was born and a short 15 months later, their daughter, Cindy, was born. In 1965, Larry wanted to buy a new International Scout and convinced Connie to go back to work, "just long enough" to pay off the loan. Connie said that was the most expensive vehicle that they ever purchased as she worked for the next 60 years. She worked for Hal Johnson until November of 1966 when he merged his agency with David Hunter and Lou Tremelling, forming the Falls Insurance Center. Connie loved working there, and loved answering the phone, "Hello, this is Connie at the Falls Insurance Center." She spent 59 years, 4 months, and 20 days helping her beloved customers. She knew everything about her customers, making them feel that she was their friend. Her most recent employer, Rodney Tieken, as well as all the employees in her office, went above and beyond to accommodate Connie as her health began to decline. She joked that she started on a manual typewriter, typing 6/6/66 and was very excited when she could type on her computer 2/22/22, spanning six decades in insurance. As part of her insurance legacy, she joined the Insurance Women of Idaho Falls in 1980, serving as president twice, and every other position at least once. She taught the "Communicate with Confidence" course and earned her CPIW designation. Some of her fondest memories were at the state and regional conventions that she attended.

Connie was one of the few working moms of her day, so Cammie and Cindy's childhood did not resemble their friends. However, they never had to worry about a participation fee, a dress for a school dance, or shoes to play basketball as Connie always found a way to pay for those items, even if it meant that she went without new clothes.

Connie served on every BHS Class of 1960 reunion committee until she broke her hip in 2023. One reunion, she had her gallbladder out on Monday and still attended on Saturday. She also helped find the members of Larry's IFHS Class of 1961, spending hours on the phone tracking down classmates.

She loved serving in the Idaho Falls community on the board at the ARA House, the Idaho Falls Booster Club, and as a volunteer for the Museum of Idaho. When IFHS needed someone to sponsor an event, Connie and Larry were the first to volunteer. One of their pride and joys is the IF sign on the front of the gym on Holmes Avenue. Connie was very proud when she and Larry were on the 2002 Channel 8, "Eight Who Make a Difference" recipients for their service to the community.

Larry always joked that Connie would give away her last penny to help someone in need, so he gave her a small piggy bank containing one penny, so she would not be penniless.

She was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in the Primary for 55 years. Her Primary lessons were legendary, and she would send a lesson review to any child who was missing that week. She led the Round the Block Parades with her old station wagon, helped the Blazers start fires, and served as President three times. She also typed and printed her church bulletin.

One of her greatest joys was being a grandmother to seven grandchildren who affectionately called her Grandma Connie. She loved watching their sports, attending their plays and performances, and donating money to help them in their activities. Many of her grandchildren's organizations or sports team received a meal paid for by Connie.

She loved to watch sports on TV, with her favorite being the NFL. Her beloved team was the Green Bay Packers. She loved when John Stockton played for the Utah Jazz and was in Seattle in 1984 for his first NBA game. She was a whiz at picking the winners in our family's sports pool, most recently winning the NHL Stanley Cup pool.

Connie collected snowmen and had decorations for every holiday, which all had a note attached on the back as to where to place it in her home and loved hosting Christmas Eve dinner. She was always up for a camping adventure on the West End of Island Park Reservoir and later enjoyed spending the weekend at their cabin at Henry's Lake. She supported Larry in his business adventures as the bookkeeper for Larry Carlson Plastering as well as the Cliff House Restaurant.

She was a hard worker, was a faithful servant of the Savior, a supportive wife, a wonderful mother, and an amazing grandmother. She credited her father for her strong work ethic, but her mother for her tough, but compassionate attitude.

She is survived by her daughters, Cammie (Brian) Searle and Cindy (Jim) Carson; as well as a sister, Carol (Rodger) Jensen, all of Idaho Falls; grandchildren, Jodi (Wade) Steinlage of Iowa, Janna (Tony) Eveland of Florida, Britnee (Keegan) Hunter of Idaho, Ben (Linzy) Searle of Utah, Jade Carson of Idaho, Bethany (Michael) Casteel of Idaho, Jerie (Chris) Despain of Alaska; as well as 18 adorable great grandchildren that she was very proud of.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry; her parents, Curt and Anne; her sister, Judy Maxfield; half-sister, Afton Lifferth; and half-brothers, Don and Lynn Maxfield.

Connie was truly one of a kind, an energizer bunny with a mind of her own. She truly wanted to be a friend to all that she met and wanted to help everyone in any way that she could.

Connie had the following saying in her purse…Having somewhere to go is home. Having someone to love is family. Having both is a blessing.

Services will be held at 12 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026, at the Idaho Falls 2nd Ward, 885 S. Boulevard in Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends on Thursday evening from 6:30-8 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Avenue, and Friday from 11-11:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery.