Carol Joan (Halsor) Hembre, 92, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, December 27 at the TenderCare at Pinehurst Assisted Living facility. She was a 62-year resident of Littleton.
Carol was born in DeForest, Wisconsin on a cold Saturday morning January 30, 1932, to Doris (Johnson) and Arthur Halsor. She was the second of three girls, with older sister June and younger sister Lois, born to Art and Doris who were children of Norwegian immigrants of the late nineteenth century each coming from large families with seven siblings.
Carol and her sisters June (b. 1930) and Lois (b.1933) grew up as close friends and excellent students in school. Carol graduated as the salutatorian in her class of 1950 from DeForest High School and followed her older sister June’s lead to St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. There she met and fell in love with a fellow freshman from Madison, Donald Hembre. Don developed an interest in geology and persuaded Carol to transfer to the University of Wisconsin in the fall of 1952 where she entered a nursing program at UW. The two were married in 1953 and Carol gave birth to their first child Robert in February of 1954. Don finished his education in geology, and they made a big move to Los Angeles where Don began work with Standard Oil of California in 1955. Carol navigated their acclimation to the west coast, including the birth of a second son, David in February of 1958 and the purchase of their first home in Buena Park. In 1960 their first daughter Kristine was born, also in February. Carol fondly remembered her neighbors and early family life in California and Buena Park.
In December of 1961 the young family made a final long-distance move to Littleton, while Carol was seven months pregnant, and the birth of Susan in February (1962) completed the growth of their family to six. Don and Carol fell in love with Colorado and became members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Over the years all four of their children graduated from South Elementary, Grant Junior High and Littleton High School. While raising four children, Carol returned to college at Denver University and completed her Bachelor’s Degree in 1969. She then enjoyed teaching in a reading program at South Elementary for many years.
Carol was inspired by the beauty of the front range of the Rocky Mountains, as viewed from Littleton. She was a wonderful cook and a loving and supportive wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She and Don enjoyed traveling to family graduations and weddings in California, Tennessee, Maine, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Washington.
She was a devoted member of Holy Trinity for over sixty years and also active with geologic society auxiliary. Carol and Don played bridge, enjoyed music and travelled. In Littleton her Windermere Way and Lakeview neighborhoods created many cherished friends and memories.
She is preceded in death by her husband Don and two sisters, June and Lois and by her son-in-law Robert McKeen and grandson-in-law Sean Johnson. Carol is survived by 4 children (and their spouses): Bob (Patti) Hembre, David (Jill McGowan) Hembre, Kristine Hembre, and Susan McKeen; 8 grandchildren: Kristi (Josh) Dooley, Erik (Leah Gjertson), Lisa (Brian) Johnson, Michael Hembre, Brynne Johnson-McKeen, Robert C. McKeen, Elise Headley and Theo Hembre; and 6 great-grandchildren: Nora Dooley, Haakon, Leif and Thoren Hembre and Maren and Mieka Johnson.
A Memorial Service for Carol will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at 6322 Lakeview Street, Littleton on Saturday, March 22 at 2 pm followed by a reception in the Gathering Hall. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Holy Trinity Memorial Fund (303-798-1356) or the Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org/site/donation) would be appreciated.