Randy Carlson, age 78, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by his family on June 28, 2026 in North Platte, NE. He was born in Central City, NE on January 5, 1948 to Eugene Hunt and Bonnie Norgard Hunt. When he was two years old his father died. His mother later remarried to Ned Carlson, who adopted Randy and his younger brother Barry.
“RC” graduated from Central City High School in 1966 where he was a good athlete participating in football, track, and baseball. Randy was married to Lorraine Cordsen in 1967, and the couple later had two sons, Lance and Brent.
After graduating from Wayne State College with a degree in Education, he began his teaching/coaching career in 1970 at Elgin Public Schools as the football and track coach. Two years later he was hired at those same positions at Lewiston Consolidated Schools. While coaching at Lewiston at age 25, he authored the original Nebraska State Football Playoff System. In 1974, Randy and Lorraine moved to North Platte where he taught and coached in the North Platte Public Schools for five years.
In 1977, Carlson started working as a twin career agent in the insurance industry. By 1981, after leaving education in 1979, Randy led his insurance agency, Carlson & Associates, to become the top producing organization in the country for Life Investors. The success of his agency continued for the next 35 years before semi-retiring. As Randy’s health declined in the last year, he continued to go to the office as he often stated, “I would rather wear out than rust out.” Throughout his career, RC served in many industry leadership positions from executive boards to charitable foundations, including the Fortunaire’s Charitable Foundation
Carlson was active as a community member. He served on the North Platte Chamber Board of Directors as president; the Great Plains Health Board of Directors, the Great Plains Health Foundation Board, and the North Platte Ambassadors. In 1999, Randy was recognized by the Nebraska Coaches Association for his efforts in securing funding for the new NE Coaches Assoc. Milestone Awards.
RC’s favorite pastimes were spending time with his wife, Lorraine, of 58 years, playing golf and anything to do with Husker sports. He and Lorraine also kept busy following Jack and Drew’s activities and events.
Randy was a man who had a nickname for everyone he knew or met. He liked his pizza crisp and his steaks well done. RC was a good recycler of malted beverages, was old school, was generally the last one to leave a party, was witty and a little bit nutty at times. If you were picking someone for a team, you certainly wanted him on it for 60s & 70s music trivia, a golf scramble, arm wrestling and any other competitive event.
Preceding Carlson in passing were his biological father, Eugene Hunt; parents Ned and Bonnie Carlson; in-laws, Al and Betty Cordsen; sisters-in-law Karen and Risa Carlson; brother-in law, Bub Cordsen and his wife, Linda; and nephew, Wade Cordsen.
He is survived by his wife and best friend, Lorraine; two sons, Lance (Vikki) Carlson and Brent Carlson; two grandsons, Jack and Drew; four brothers, Barry, Jeff, Kent (Deb) and Mark (Melanie); two additional individuals, Arneda Goerl and Mitch Johnson, who became members of the family; brothers-in-law, Tom (Sue) Cordsen; Dan (Shelley) Cordsen; and many other extended family members.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Randy Carlson Memorial c/o the North Platte Public Schools Foundation.
Odean Colonial Chapel is entrusted with arrangements. A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 6, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 5, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with family receiving friends from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel.