- Date Of Birth: February 25, 1929
- Date Of Death: February 3, 2022
- State: Florida
Rhoda Lois Carlstedt left this earth for her heavenly home on February 3, 2022. She succumbed to infections and passed away peacefully, attended in her last days by nephew Ken, and friends Helen and Xia.
She was born in Strandquist, Minnesota on February 25, 1929 to Rev. Peter Gustav and Florence Carlstedt. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, where her father pastored the Swedish Lutheran parish. Rhoda was stricken with polio at age 2.
When she was 14, the family moved to Vilas, Kansas, where Rhoda graduated from high school. She attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis for a year and then Augsburg College, where she and her sister Faith graduated in 1952. Rhoda, Faith and their sister Grace formed a rich vocal trio that performed throughout their lives together.
After graduating from college, she considered marrying her boyfriend, but then saw a poster for Lutheran missionaries to serve in Papua New Guinea and felt called. Rhoda set off for this great adventure to the jungles and mountains of an unknown world, serving there for the next 35 years. She introduced its people to the outside world, teaching them about reading, writing, math, and most of all, showing them God’s love. She was cherished by the children she taught—first as a teacher in Asaroka, then as an instructor at the teacher’s college in Lae, and finally as curriculum developer and co-author of four books.
Rhoda retired in 1998 and moved to Good Samaritan Village in Kissimmee, Florida, where she stayed active teaching Sunday school, attending Bible studies, volunteering, swimming, hosting game nights, golfing, and driving her golf cart faster than recommended by her many nieces and nephews.
Rhoda is survived by her younger brother Jim, and by numerous nieces, nephews, and grand- nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her sisters Margaret, Alice, Grace, Faith, and Meri, and her brothers John, Paul, and David.
Rhoda’s faith was unwavering and central to her life. She started each day with devotions and prayer. She was a powerful and energized presence that made a deep impression on all who knew her. She inspired her large extended family, awakening their curiosity about other cultures, and served as a model of generosity, affection, and strength of character, which of course came from her deep faith. Her family gives thanks for Rhoda’s tremendous devotion to God’s children in New Guinea. She made an impact in the world and to all who knew her. She will be deeply missed.
To celebrate that Rhoda has happily gone home to be with her savior Jesus, she desired that attendants dress in bright colors, not black “mourning clothes.”
