Carol Palmquist Obituary

Carol Jean Palmquist, of Menahaga, MN, passed away peacefully at the age of 83 Thursday, February 19, 2026, at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga.

Carol was born Carol Jean Dupont on October 18, 1942 to Iris (Sanford) and Earl Dupont in Wadena, MN where she resided until relocating to Racine, WI at the age of 6. She returned to Wadena every summer to stay with her beloved Aunt Zoe and Uncle Ken Knudson, spend time with her Grandmother, and enjoy time with Uncle Fred and Aunt Maggie on their farm in Sebeka. She recalls those times as some of the happiest in her childhood. In 1960, after graduating from William Horlick High School in Racine,

Carol took her first job at Standard Foundry, where she worked as a receptionist and switchboard operator. She fondly recalled how kind and patient everyone was and how the family that owned the business seemed to know everyone who worked there! A year later, Carol enlisted in the United States Air Force, completing basic training at Lackland TX Air Force Base, after which she was stationed in Syracuse, NY where she was part of the Northern Defence Unit as a radar operator.

After her time in the Air Force, Carol relocated to Roanoke, VA and worked for General Electric, before returning to Minnesota where she settled in the Minneapolis area. Employed at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, she met Gary, a guard with the protection department, who became the love of her life. They remained employed there until retiring together in 1998. After retiring, the loving couple relocated to Manahga where they became members of the United Methodist Church in Menahga and she became actively involved in the community. Carol joined the United Methodists Women's Group, held roles as secretary for the church, member of the Board of Directors, and a tireless volunteer for a variety of church activities including working booths for Mid-Summer celebrations, assisting with Jesus And Me children's summer programs, church dinners, seasonal decorating, and church cleaning.

In addition to her activities with the church, she also held a job at the Menahga bakery and made time to work at the Menahga Area Food Shelf. When not engaged in the above activities, Carol loved her little house and was proud of all the work she and Gary did to make it a home. Through the years they tackled a wide variety of projects, some often unplanned for, with determination, humor, and a never ending supply of patience and love. The result is a wonderful, cozy, loving home surrounded by nature and a variety of wildlife (including a few bears who forced them to take down the bird feeders, but not before Carol was able to tame the Chickadees to the point where they would eat directly from her hand!). Carol is loved dearly and will be forever cherished. She is survived by her devoted husband of 56 years Gary, daughters Kristen Roskop and her husband Nicholas, Rebecca Schmolke and her husband Ronald, grandchildren Baron Roskop, Anthony Gerou, Jacob and Zachary Schmolke, and great grandson Axel Tetreault