James "Jim" Carlson passed away in Rapid City, SD on October 13, 2026. A burial will be held for Jim at 2:00pm on Thursday October 29, 2026 at the Arlington City Cemetery. A visitation will be held later that day from 5:00-6:30pm on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings, SD. A prayer service will follow from 6:30-7:00pm. 

Jim was born in Chamberlain, SD to Ernest (Wes) and Delores (Dee) Carlson. During his childhood, he moved around quite a bit for his Father‘s work with the telephone company. In high school he moved to Sioux Falls and graduated from Lincoln high school. He met and married Linda Wortman in 1971. They backpacked across Europe together. They settled in Volga, SD. Jim worked a construction job and they had two children Ryan and Nikol.

Jim was shot in a hunting accident at the age of 27 and became legally blind. This never slowed him down. It rather motivated him to continue to strive and achieve more. He attended the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Aberdeen. He then went to college at SDSU where he earned a bachelors and masters degree in counseling. He worked as faculty at SDSU as a Disabled Student Services Advisor and Counselor during his time there. After his time in Brookings, he moved out to the Black Hills and spent the last 25 years in Deadwood, SD.

Jim was a member at the First Lutheran Church in Volga, SD. He served on the Board of Directors from 1995 to 2001 for South Dakota Advocacy Services and a member of A.B.A.T.E of South Dakota. He was involved in Fishing has No Boundaries and Ski for Light where he won many first place ribbons for downhill skiing. His Beep Baseball team won the national championship. Jim enjoyed various hobbies, including hunting, fishing, skiing, music, and listening to his books on tape.

Survivors: His son Ryan (Laura) Carlson, daughter Nikol Handeland. Grandchildren: Hadley Carlson, Britt Carlson, and Gracyn Handeland. Great grandchild: Wrigley Gannon.

Proceeded in death by his parents Ernest and Delores(Mohror) Carlson. Grandparents: Ernest and Marie Carlson and Clint and Bertha Mohror.