Carolyn R. Griffith

Carolyn Ruth (Nielsen) Griffith, age 95, of Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota passed away peacefully on May 17, 2026.

She was born on April 13, 1931 in Saint Paul, Minnesota to Emanuel and Hope Nielsen of North St. Paul, Minnesota. A Great Depression child in a large family, they learned to make-do. She was united in marriage to David C. Griffith in 1948. Both were hard-working, honest and sincere. Carol treasured her family and friends; she was fun-loving and youthful in her approach to life, and gave helpful advice to others, when asked. She is remembered as the backbone of her family.

Carol was a proud employee of the City of North St. Paul for 33 years. Meticulously balancing the books, ensuring staff and vendors were paid. She was very well organized and particular, but personable and knew most of the families and businesses in town during the mid-century. After retirement, Carol volunteered for many years. She spent a year as a member of Mayor Bill Sandberg’s 1987 Centennial Commission, serving as personal secretary, co-administrator of programming events and writing sections of the history of North St. Paul book. Subsequently, she volunteered for many years in the office of their church, Christ Lutheran, Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota.

While she appreciated work, her greatest pleasure was living on “The Lake” with her husband, Dave, for fifty years, where they enjoyed time with family and friends. Carol loved to sponsor sleep-overs and visits with younger family members, listening to stories of their activities, and she graciously hosted innumerable birthdays and holidays. She will be remembered as the indispensable center of the family.

She is survived by her sons, Douglas J. Griffith (Eloise Griffith) and Thomas B. Griffith; grandchildren, Joseph M. Griffith (Justin Cassidy), Steve Reeves (Nicole); great granddaughters, Lilly, Lucy and Lainey; sister, Alice Jones; nieces, nephews and many friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Emanuel and Hope Nielsen; husband, David Griffith; siblings, Ruby Remick, LeRoy Nielsen Rydeen, Dorothy Shelby, Judy Schultz, Jean Nielsen, Dave Nielsen, Catherine (Kitty) Fontaine, and best friends and sister-in-law, Betty Eichler.

Funeral Services will be held at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, May 28, 2026 at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake. Visitation begins two hours prior to the service. Private family interment will be held at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Memorials preferred to WSS Foundation (Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome) in loving support of her great granddaughter, or Christ Lutheran Church, Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota.