Danny Lee Carlsten , 66, passed away suddenly on Thursday, June 9, 2016 in Gunnison, Colorado, where he currently resided.

Danny was born January 4th 1950 to Stanley Carlsten Sr. and Ethel (Herda) Hatchard in Minot, North Dakota. He grew up with his brother, Stanley Carlsten and sister, Kimberly Hoff and graduated from Minot High School.

Following graduation, Danny moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to pursue a career in restaurant management and starting up new locations. After a few years of being a wild man he ended up at the Minot Air Force Base, where he ran the officers club. There he met Darla, a strawberry blonde waitress that blessed him with his only son, Brooke Carlsten. Danny and Darla were married April 3, 1988 at their new home in Ramsey, Minnesota.

After his divorce in 1996, Danny hit the road to pursue a career in Resort maintenance where he bounced from park to park and state to state. Danny grew to love the members more than the job itself. He also took the opportunity to show his son different parts of the country every summer. As he would say "I put the fun in dysfunctional."

His son was his pride and joy until he and his wife Sabrina Carlsten blessed him with four granddaughters Mackhayla (12), Ariel (9), Brooklyn (7), and Sophia (4) and an adopted granddaughter Destiny (15). Danny loved these little girls with all his heart and loved making memories with them that will last forever. With all of this he still had time to cheer on the Minnesota Vikings every Sunday and hit the bingo hall on Tuesday night.

Danny was a genuine free spirited loving man who made time in his busy day to show he cared, with a tip of the hat and a smile. So we can all say goodbye to a father, brother, grandpa and a dear friend as the cowboy rides away. He will truly be missed.

Danny's loving family includes his son, Brooke (Sabrina) Carlsten, Minneapolis, MN; granddaughters: Mackhayla, Ariel, Brooklyn and Sophia; adopted granddaughter, Destiny; sister, Kimberly (Randy) Hoff, Minneapolis, MN; brother, Stan Carlsten, Minot and numerous nieces and nephews.

Danny was preceded in death by his parents.

Celebration of Life Service: 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2016, at Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Interment: First Lutheran Cemetery, Minot, ND.
Visitation: Thursday, June 16, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.