Lillian Francis (Carter) Bliss

Lillian Francis Carter Bliss, 96, of Bemidji, MN, passed away Monday, September 30, 2025, at Colleen’s Caring Hands. 

She was born July 16, 1929, in Bemidji, MN, the second (of seven) children and eldest daughter of William and Gladys (Norberg) Carter.  Growing up in Bemidji, she attended Bemidji High School.  Lil actively pursued Vernon “Dude” Bliss from Cass Lake and they were married August 23, 1947, at Immanual Lutheran Church in Cass Lake.  Shortly after their marriage they moved to Northern California where Dude began his career in logging before switching to underground construction. This is where they started their family.  Bobby and Tommy were born in quick succession with Danny following 11 years later, just prior to their move to Southern California.  As Dude’s career required them to follow the construction projects, Lillian raised her family from the west coast to the east coast and north to Chicago before heading back to Bemidji.  Happy to be home and closer to family, she worked at S & L for many years even being the top sales person multiple times.

Lil had a great sense of humor and was regularly heard singing some of her favorite songs.  She loved spending time with her siblings and large extended family of nieces and nephews.  Generous to a fault, no one around her went without.

Sadly, Alzheimers took the best parts of Lil.  After a bad fall she ended up at Colleen’s Caring Hands.  The fabulous staff there took amazing care of her until her final breath.  Lil’s family is truly grateful for all the staff at Colleen’s and what they did for her during her stay there.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 73 years, Vernon “Dude” Bliss; parents Gladys and William Carter; siblings William (Marian) Carter, Catherine (Emil) Hadrava, Cliff (Ruth) Carter, Dolores (Jack) Henson, Richard (Delores) Carter, and Deanna (Eldred) Johnson; nephews Brad Carter, Mike Johnson, Fred Henson, and Billy Carter; grandson Cory Lee Bliss; and great-granddaughter Piper Reierson.

She is survived by her sons Robert Bliss of Igo, CA, Thomas (Jennifer) Bliss of Laporte, MN and Daniel Bliss of Bemidji, MN; grandchildren Jennifer (Jim) O’Donnell of Lake Elsinore, CA, Thomas (Brandy) Bliss Jr. of Lake Elsinore, CA, Danielle (Ryan) Reierson of Bemidji, MN, and Christopher (Michelle) Bliss of Loveland, CO; great-grandchildren Alik (Fiona) Christiansen, Evin Christiansen, Bailey Bliss, Tobey Bliss, Mataya Carter, Isabella Reierson, Sawyer Reierson, Jorgan Bliss, and Jaxon Bliss; as well as many nieces and nephews and a future great-great-grandson.

A celebration of Lillian’s life will be held at a later date.

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