Carol J. Goudy

Carol Jean (Bakken) Goudy, 83, passed away at home on April 8, 2026.

Carol was born on the 17th of May, 1942, to Norman and Noranne Bakken in Portland, Oregon. The family moved to Boise, Idhao, when Carol was 4, then to Norman's home town of Fertile, Minnesota, when she was 6.

Carol grew up in Fertile, tagging along with her father, tending to her horse, and getting into mischief with her friends. She played the flute and the piccolo in the high school band, was on the debate team and was the editor of her senior yearbook. She played the organ at Concordia Lutheran, where she was confirmed, and she worked for her parents at their steakhouse and drive-in restaurant.

Carol graduated high school in 1960 and went off to college, earning a degree in speech therapy from the University of Minnesota. Opportunity led her to Rochester, MN, then Bellingham, WA, but she felt unfulfilled on this path and returned to the U of M in the library science program.

As she was finishing library school in 1969, she met James Goudy, and they were married on May 2, 1970. They started a family the following year with Jane's arrival, followed by Thomas in 1974, both from Korea, and the birth of James in 1977.

Carol enjoyed a 25 year career as a librarian, with 16 years in the Hennepin County Library System - Crystal, MN branch, 4 years with Boeing Military Aircraft Engineering Division in Wichita, KS, and 5 years with the University of Kansas Medical School in Wichita.

Returning to Minnesota in 1994, Carol felt at home, reconnecting with old friends and finding contentment in her surroundings. She was unpretentious and appreciated the simple things in life. She loved her family and her dogs. She loved day trips to the North Shore, exploring small towns, walking by the lakes, listening to music, going out for burgers and frequenting used bookstores. She loved to read and amassed a sizeable library reflecting her diverse interests - art, architecture, birds, ecology, the environment, philosophy, and British mysteries, to name a few.

She was a good listener, patient, and generous with her time. She'll be remembered for her warmth and her gentle kindness.

Carol is survived by her husband, James, daughter Jane, sons Thomas (Muoi) and James (Jennifer), and grandchildren Erica, Jenson, Charlotte and Mairin.

memorial service

Celebration of Life

June 26, 2026

Zion Lutheran Church 241 5th Ave N, Hopkins, MN 55343, USA

Visitation one hour prior, luncheon to follow.

Padre Howie Krienke will officiate.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services