Joseph Robert Carr

Joseph Robert Carr, 92, passed away in Moyie Springs, Idaho, on August 23, 2026.

Joey was born in Carrington, North Dakota, on April 13, 1934, to J.M. and Mabel (Baklund) Carr. He was the sixth of seven children and spent his childhood on the family farm learning the skills and work ethic that shaped his life. His parents moved into town when he was a teen, which allowed him time to spend hours on the court in Carr's Barn, perfecting the athleticism and basketball expertise that would serve him well in high school.

He joined the Carrington High School Varsity basketball team as a freshman. Playing as a three-sport athlete (football, basketball, and track), he was often in the local papers during the early '50s. At the end of his senior year in 1952, he was chosen Athlete of the Year. He also loved music, playing multiple instruments in the band and singing in the choir. Dancing was a favorite pastime, and he became a local legend for the number of proms he attended around the area.

Joe farmed with his father and brothers, and then attended Wahpeton State School of Science for two years to study how to be, as he called it, “Doctor of Engines”. He was crowned Homecoming King in 1955, the same year he received his degree. Forever after, he would laughingly remind his children that he was King.

He moved to Lakewood, California, in 1956 to seek adventure while working at Union Oil as a tune-up man. In 1957, Joe and his best friend, Donny Theis, volunteered for the draft and joined the U.S. Army. He spent the next six months in Arkansas, learning Morse code and became exceptionally skilled. Then, he was off to Korea, where he served with the 13th Engineer Battalion as Communications Radio Chief, a fact he was very proud of. He wore his Korean Veteran cap to the very end, and always appreciated it when strangers offered their thanks for his service.

After his army time, Joe returned to North Dakota. He worked hard farming and ranching with his brothers. The entrepreneurial spirit ran strong in the Carr boys. Together they set up Carrington Livestock and a feedlot. Eventually, Carrington Sunflower, Inc. was born. Farming was in his blood, but he truly loved raising cattle. He claimed some of his favorite sights were new baby calves with their mamas in the spring, the big Angus bull proudly looking over his pasture domain, and oceans of sunflowers, wheat, and flax.

Joe spent time in the hospital in 1962, where he met a pretty, young nurse's aide. He married Mary T. Voglewede two years later, and they lived and worked on the Carr family homestead through the mid-1980s, raising four children and many animals together.

In the early '90s, Joe started a new career, moving to Minnesota to work with his brother, John, at Great Lakes Engineering. His fabled “I can fix anything” skills came into play, and he spent many years making himself indispensable around the shop. He enjoyed engineering a creative solution to a problematic repair or building custom projects from scratch. He was always happy to disappear with graph paper and colored pens to map out a plan. During this time, he began observing the 12 Steps and started collecting sobriety coins. He celebrated 36 of those anniversaries, with his kids cheering him on all the way.

With his children scattered all over the U.S., Joe was always ready to “climb in the car” and eat up the miles going back and forth between work, family events, and remodeling projects. He loved driving, especially to see family, and knew every mile marker between Minnesota and Idaho. He was known as “Winston,” the family chauffeur, and was usually up for a cruise, whether it was for a cross-country adventure with one of his kids or a grandchild who needed to get to piano lessons on time.

As proof that you are never too old, Joe reconnected with a long-ago friend whom he hadn't seen in decades. Courting long distance, their relationship blossomed over visits and many phone calls. He and Rita (Fruhwirth) Collins married in June 2009. They spent 17 years together enjoying summers in their little brown house in Idaho, and cozy California winters in the condo.

Joe always enjoyed a trip to the casino. With coffee in hand and his shiny “lucky boots” on, the slot machines responded for him. He could somehow tell which machine was going to adore him, and he was ridiculously lucky. He said winning was fun, but the best part was sharing what he took home with his family. Generous to a fault, he was always there to offer whatever he could, even if it was just his patented fatherly wisdom, generally told in story form.

Joseph is survived by his wife, Rita Collins-Carr; his brother, John Carr (St. Anthony, MN); his four children, Theresa Stahl (Moyie Springs, ID), Christina Kinney (St. Paul, MN), Stephen Carr (Bradenton, FL), and Alicia Carr (San Juan Island, WA). He was a loving grandpa to 10 grandchildren: Jonathan and Olivia Stahl; Isabelle and Liam Kinney; Breah and Jesse Carr; Giancarlo, Isabella and Angelina Padilla; and Evren Lagerwall. He was a very committed family man who took great pride in the next generations.

Joe touched many lives and is deeply missed by all who knew him. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.