Louis Larson 1874-1942

LARSON, PETERSON, HAGEN, KROGEN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/22/2020 at 06:24:50

2 April 1942 - The Anamosa Journal

Louis Brandness Larson died Saturday at 5:45 a.m. at the age of 68 years. Mr. Larson was stricken Friday afternoon as he returned home from work at the Iowa State Men's reformatory.

Funeral service was held Monday afternoon at St. Paul's American Lutheran church with Rev. H. L. Buesing reading the service. George Wessels and the Rev. Buesing sang "Whispering Hope" and "I Need Thee Every Hour" at the service. Burial was Tuesday at New London, Wisc. Smykil Home for Funerals was in charge of the service.

Casket bearers were N. A. Hanson, Theodore Lusson, S. A. Knapp, Peter Johannson, Otto P. Martin and Dr. H. A. Peterson.

Mr. Larson was born in Foldalem, Norway, on Feb. 17, 1874. He was the third child in a family of 13 children of Mr. and Mrs. Lars Larson. All the children are deceased except Marit, who lives in Norway.

Mr. Larson was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in Norway. At the age of 16 years he emigrated to the United States at Stanley, Wisc. He obtained employment in a clothing store and attended school to learn the American way of life. He was a salesman in stores at Lodi, Portage and Warrens, Wisc. He married Paulina Peterson, Warrens, On Oct. 31, 1903.

In 1905, Mr. Larson associated in a store enterprise at New Lisbon, Wisc., with his brothers, Peter and Mandus Peterson. In 1912, the Larson family moved to Waukon, Iowa, where he owned a department store until 1928, when he retired from the mercantile business.

Mr. Larson was active in community affairs during his 16 years at Waukon. He was Allamakee county Republican chairman, president of the Waukon school board and a delegate to the Lutheran church convention. At the Norwegian centennial, he was chosen as the typical Norwegian. He taught Sunday school for many years. All his family were confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. John's church at Waukon.

Following his retirement as a merchant in 1928, Mr. Larson traveled as a salesman until 1934 when he was appointed assistant sergeant-at-arms of the Iowa senate. Later he came to Anamosa when he was appointed to the guard force at the reformatory.

Mr. Larson was an active member of the Knights of Pythias lodge, having served as chancellor commander. He was affiliated with Masonic lodge at Anamosa and the Scottish rite of Freemasonry at Clinton.

Survivors are: Mrs. Larson, three children, Miss Lola M. Larson, Monroe, Wisc.; Clayton, Eau Clair, Wisc., and Abner, Chicago. Paul Rae, daughter of the Clayton Larsons, is his only granddaughter. Other survivors are four brothers-in-law, Peter and Mandus Peterson, New Lisbon, Wisc.; Nel Hagen, Minneapolis, and Ole Krogen, Stanley, Wisc.