Carla Artner

Carla Ann Artner (Bohm), age 83, was called to her heavenly home on March 6, 2026, at Good Samaritan Society in Mountain Lake, Minnesota.

Carla was born on October 28, 1942, to Arthur and Hazel (Voigtlander) Bohm in Waseca, Minnesota. She was baptized as an infant on November 22, 1942, and confirmed at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Butterfield, Minnesota, on March 25, 1956.

In 1951, her family moved to Butterfield, Minnesota, the place she proudly called home. Carla cared for others as a young girl – helping her parents with twin siblings, Mark and Marsha, who were born just prior to her 12th birthday. During her junior year of high school, Carla discovered her natural gift for sewing in a home economics class and taught herself on a pedal sewing machine. Little did she know this skill would stay with her throughout her life. Carla lovingly sewed clothing for her children and many others, turning her talent into part-time work and a lifelong passion.

She graduated from Butterfield High School in 1960.While working at the local café, Carla met Gene Artner who was a newcomer to Butterfield. Gene often stopped in for pie and coffee, but those visits quickly became about something much sweeter – the chance to spend time talking with Carla. At a time when many couples married immediately after high school, Gene wanted Carla to be certain that their commitment was one meant for a lifetime. After an extra year of courtship, Carla and Gene were united in marriage on July 15, 1961. Their friendship became the foundation of a marriage built on deep love, quiet devotion, and steadfast partnership. They shared 62 wonderful years of marriage, filled with family, laughter, and the everyday moments that make a life together so meaningful, until Gene’s passing in 2024.

Together, Carla and Gene built a beautiful life in Butterfield. They were blessed with two children, Alan and Amy, and two beloved grandchildren, Jessica and Isaac. Carla was incredibly proud of her grandchildren and treasured every moment she spent with them. Some of her favorite times were the summer visits when Jessica and Isaac stayed with their grandparents.

Those summers were filled with simple joys and cherished traditions. Carla rode bike with the kids at the local bank parking lot after hours so they could show off their tricks over the curbs. She took them to the library, taught them to bake, played kickball in the backyard, and spent hours playing with paper dolls and a toy construction set. There were trips to the playground, fishing for bullheads, and endless card games around the table. Her grandchildren were always amazed that Carla could clean a fish without even flinching.

Carla was a gifted cook and was famously known among her family – especially her grandchildren – for her BBQ meatballs, homemade cinnamon rolls, freshly baked buns, her “impossible” pumpkin pie, and of course, red Jell-O with bananas. She learned to cook after marrying Gene, often joking that she figured she should know how to feed a husband who enjoyed hot meals. There was always a plate of cookies, bars, or other sweets waiting in the kitchen for anyone who stopped by for the traditional 3 o’clock lunch break. Her treasured recipes and handwritten notes tucked into well-worn cookbooks will continue to nourish her family for generations to come.

Carla enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies, including fishing with Gene and the grandchildren, cooking, baking, reading, knitting, crocheting, sewing, puzzling, and golfing. She and Gene spent countless hours on the golf course, sharing their love of the game with their son and grandson. In every blanket and quilt Carla created, she lovingly stitched a small patch with her name and the date, a quiet signature of care that will warm her family for years to come. Carla truly had the gift of gab. She could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, and always had a way of making people feel welcomed and valued. When traveling with Carla, you learned to allow extra time for coming and going, as it was common to wait patiently while she finished a conversation with someone she had just met. Her warmth, wit, and wonderful way with words turned strangers into friends. Carla touched countless lives with kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, and spirited conversation. She will be dearly missed by her family and fondly remembered for her warm and loving heart and the Christian love she shared.

Carla’s memory will be cherished by her children, Alan Artner of St. Cloud, MN and Amy Denn of Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren, Jessica Denn (Abhigyan Datta) of Mankato, MN and Isaac Denn-Diaz (Gabriela) of West St. Paul, MN; siblings, Janice Clark of Henderson, NV, Mark Bohm of Conifer, CO, and Marsha Rettig of Fairmont, MN; sisters-in-law, Lola Johnson of St. James, MN, and Patricia Belles of Newberg, OR.

Carla was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 62 years, Gene Artner; daughter-in-law, Lori Stanton-Artner; her parents, Arthur and Hazel Bohm; father and mothers-in-law and brothers-in-law.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Good Samaritan Society and Avera@Home hospice care for the love, comfort and compassionate care provided to Carla.

A memorial service celebrating Carla’s life will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Darfur, MN on March 30, 2026 at 11:00 am. Visitation at the church begins at 10:00 am. A lunch reception will follow the service. Burial will be in St. Matthew’s Lutheran Cemetery, Butterfield, MN.