Gilbert (Bert) Lavar Carlson

Gilbert (Bert) LaVar Carlson, 84, of Salt Lake City, Utah, passed away peacefully at his home on September 17, 2019.
A viewing and visitation will be held Wednesday evening September 25, from 6 until 8 pm and Thursday September 26th from 9:30 to 10:30 am at the Butler 7th Ward Meeting house, 1355 E 7200 South. A Celebration of Life/Memorial Service will be held, Thursday, September 26 at 11:00 am.
Gilbert (fondly referred to as Bert) was born on June 9th 1935, to Carl LaVar and Fern Powell Carlson. He graduated from Lehi High School in 1953 and married his “angel on earth” and high school sweetheart, Leanna Cahn on September 11, 1953. They were sealed for time and all eternity on their anniversary in 1956. At that same time, he was also able to be sealed to his parents.
He was very involved in high school. He lettered in both football and track. He played running back on offense and linebacker on defense and was one of the stars of their track team. He loved music and played the tuba in the band. He also had a love for the theatre and performed in school plays. He took on the star roll as the father in Father of the Bride. He enjoyed being physically fit, lifting weights, and entered and won the first Mr. Junior Utah Title in 1952 when he was just 17. He and his good friend JR Price put together a tumbling act and performed all over Utah and Salt Lake Counties.
He served as a cook in the National Guard from 1952 until 1960, and at one point he had to cook for the Utah State Prison because of the riot in 1957.
He loved art and was a very talented artist, a gift he has passed on to some of his children and grandchildren. He also loved to dance and anytime that he could cut a rug with his sweetheart he did.
Bert loved nature and the outdoors. As a young boy, he loved horses and the rodeo and spent much of his time at the Lehi Rodeo doing odd jobs and helping out. All throughout his life enjoyed camping hunting and fishing and shared that love with his children.
He was a sports enthusiast (not quite like his wife) but he did love and support the local teams. He enjoyed going to the BYU football games and watching the Utah Stars and later-on the Utah Jazz.
Bert was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was very proud to be a member. He had many callings in the church, but his favorites were Second Counselor in the Bishopric, Deacon Advisor, Scoutmaster and his last calling was as Ward Librarian where he got to spend time with his wife.
As a scoutmaster, Bert was a significant and important influence in the lives of so many young men over the 30 years he served. Every boy wanted to be part of his scout troop. They won many awards and were the envy of all the troops around. He made sure that everyone was included and helped over 30 boys get their Eagles. He was a friend and mentor to all the young men in the neighborhood. Many of them have come back to visit him over the years even up until the week he passed away.
Bert was always one to do whatever it took to support himself and his family often having more than one job at a time. When he was still in high school and in the early part of his marriage, he worked at the Lehi Theater as the projectionist. After leaving the theater Bert had many different jobs – dry cleaners, a milkman, salesman, insurance agent, school custodian, security for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and others. One of the most notable jobs he had was as a school bus driver for the Granite School District for many years. He made a great impact on the lives of each student that rode on his bus just like he did the boys in his scout troop. He was an entrepreneur at heart and always wanted to own his own business. His first shot at that was when he started the Cottonwood Insurance Agency with two of his good friends, John Doyle and Darryl Darger. When that venture ended, he worked other jobs until he could find a business, he had a passion for. He opened one of the first video stores in Utah – Bert’s Video and TV, where he did video rentals and electronic repair. He later dropped the repair business and the store became known as Bert’s Video Magic. Once he sold the rental part of the business He and his sons became Magical Video Productions. He did countless weddings and life events that will be an important part of numerous people’s memories forever.
Bert accomplished many things in his life, but he always felt his greatest accomplishment was his family.
Gilbert is survived by his wife Leanna of 66 years, daughters Linda (Tom) Fairbrother, Kathryn (Rick) Carter, Tamara (Steve) Williams, Vicki (Duane) Sorensen, Sons David (Lohana) Carlson, Michael (Shaunna) Carlson, and Christopher Carlson. 27 loving grandchildren, and 39 great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Bruce Mitchell, many nieces, nephews and extended family. Gilbert was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to everyone. He is proceeded in death by his parents Carl and Fern, his two sisters, LaRane Cordova and Marilyn Mitchell, in-laws, Horace (Joe) Cordova, Dudley and Verna Collins, a son, Carl Edward Carlson, a granddaughter, Melissa Smith and son-in-law, Brad Williams.
A special thank you to his home health care nurse, Heidi Finch, for her kind and compassionate care over the last year, Ana Halsey, from hospice for her loving care and support during his final days. Also, the family would like to extend their sincerest gratitude to Dr. Douglas Romney and his nurse Kim for all their care over the last few years.
Service Information
Viewing September 25, 2019 at 6:00 PM-8:00 PM
1355 E 7200 S Cottonwood Heights Ut 84121





Viewing September 26, 2019 at 9:30AM
1355 E 7200 S Cottonwood Heights UT 84121





Celebration of Life
September 26, 2019 at 11:00 AM
1355 E 7200 S Cottonwood UT 84121