Niels Carlsen was born to Dr. and Mrs N.C. Carlsen of Royal IA. on June 23, 1927. His father was the President(now called Bishops) of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church. Three years later the Carlsen family moved to Blair NE. where he graduated from High School in 1944.

Upon graduating from High School, he volunteered for the old Army Air Corp and was sent to Creighton University and Wyoming University. While at Wyoming the Army Pilot Training Program was closed. Since he wanted to become a Pilot, he transferred to the Navy Pilot Training Program. A few days before arriving for the pilot training, it too was closed and he was transferred to the Battleship USS West Virginia serving for 18 months. Following that, he returned to Blair and attended Dana College. Upon graduation he taught High School one year, then married his wife Natalie. They moved to Longview WA where he was in the Florist Business with Natalie's father.

At this time Niels had no intention for the ministry. He had two brother pastors and two sisters married to pastors and he felt that was enough. Three years later he felt the call to the ministry and returned to Blair to attend Trinity Seminary. After graduation, he became an Air Force Chaplain, serving at Biggs AFB, and Fairchild AFB. He left active duty to serve a congregation at Pasadena CA. Four years later he was asked to start a new mission congregation in Aptos, located on the Monterey Peninsula. Two years later he was recalled to active duty and served at Hamilton AFB, and Travis AFB, and a short time in Vietnam. When he was released from active duty he returned to Christ Lutheran Congregation in Aptos until his retirement. Following retirement he served three years as an interim pastor at St. Stevens Lutheran in Santa Cruz, and St. Luke Lutheran in Sunnyvale CA. He has served a total of 31 years as an Air Force Chaplain in Active Duty and Reserve.

In 2001 he and his wife moved to Florida and purchased a home at Del Webb where they soon found St. John Lutheran, which has become their second home. They thank God for His Grace which has been sufficient for all of their needs.