Lori Lee (Carlson) Sixberry

Lori Lee (Carlson) Sixberry

November 23, 1956 September 18, 2024

 Lori Lee (Carlson) Sixberry, 67, Side Lake, MN, passed away on September 18, 2024, at home in Side Lake. She was born to Robert A. and Santina (Altobell) Carlson in Virginia, MN on November 23, 1956. Lori was the youngest of their four children. She grew up in Virginia and graduated with the class of 1975 from Roosevelt High School.

Lori grew up in a home that instilled a hard work ethic and began working as soon as she was old enough. She worked after school and Saturdays at the Arrow shirt factory and Canelake’s Candies. After graduation, she worked a short time in communications at the St. Louis County Sheriffs Office, then Minntac. Later, she graduated from CCU and after working for Regis Corporation for a few years she joined forces with five partners and opened Master Stylists in 1989 in Virginia. The salon became very popular and is still open today. She left the partnership in 2001 and came full circle back to St. Louis County first working in the Property Management Department and then finishing the last ten years of her career as Clerk for Division 7 at Public Works in Hibbing. She was a hard worker and loved her job in public service and was always willing to help folks needing a path to navigate through government. Her interaction with many county, city, and state employees and her willingness to always help where needed was her trademark! She was very passionate about her job and enjoyed serving the public. She retired from the job she loved in 2022 and shortly thereafter received devastating news of a brain cancer diagnosis. Even though the prognosis was grim, she maintained a positive attitude and remained optimistic.

Lori loved her perennial gardens and liked a neat and tidy home that was tastefully decorated. She especially enjoyed holidays and get-togethers with family and friends which always featured great food, music, drinks and a ton of laughs. She was almost always asked to bring her specialty, potato salad or an Italian culinary delight! She was always game to go on an overnight shopping trip and enjoyed arts and craft fairs. For many years unforgettable memories were created with her kraut crew, Ed, Joann, Carol, MaryLu and Sue, where they would can hundreds of pints of sauerkraut in a day. A great tradition she loved and maintained right to the very end. 

On September 13, 1986, she married Jim and together they shared a quiet life in the northland. After marriage they lived in Makinen and then in 2006 they moved to Side Lake. Together they shared many, many good times. In their younger years, they stayed at many local campgrounds and canoed, camped and fished in Canada and the BWCA. Later, they found pleasure in attending music venues, taking road trips and going out for a burger and a beer, but mostly they enjoyed a simple life at home on the lake. 

Lori is survived by her husband Jim, her sister Cory Carlson of Virginia, MN, three bonus sons, Jason (Jessica), Tony and Sean (Kelly), seven bonus grandchildren, JJ, Jake, John, River, Hailey, Ethan and Holly, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Carol Leeds and Mike Sinko, brother-in-law, Ed Sixberry, Niece, Leann Reyes Sixberry and her family (Cavite City, Philippines), Nephew, Jody (Kayla) Leeds and their daughter, Brynlee, other relatives and a host of friends and co-workers who became like family to her. Constants, Shelly, Cheryl, Donelle and Greg, Gary and Sue who were always there when needed and her cousins who were all dear to her heart.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers, Robert D and Terry Lee Carlson, in-laws, Gary, Ken, Marilyn, and Alice, mother-in-law, Lorraine, and her father-in-law that she never had the pleasure of meeting, Russell.

Per Lori’s request, there will be no services held. She would rather you spend your time with loved ones; to enjoy your blessings and to remember, it costs nothing to be kind and helpful. Arrangements are with the Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.