Larson, Betty Lou 1929-2025

LARSON, RATLIFF

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/12/2025 at 18:37:52

~Rexwinkle Funeral Home Obituary

Betty Lou Larson, 95, of Austin, Minnesota, formerly of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away Saturday, January 11, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society in St. Ansgar, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at the Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars. Pastor Jan Christensen will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars.

If you would like to give a memorial, please give it in honor of Presbyterian United Church of Christ or Westmar Alumni and Friends Association.

Betty Lou (Ratliff) Larson was born on June 22nd, 1929, in Hartford City, Indiana, to Walter and Grace Ratliff. She was a great blessing to her mother, especially after losing her husband Walter to leukemia, and her son Derrill in World War II. Betty Lou followed in her family's footsteps, being a talented musician and attending Indiana Central College. She continued her education with a Master's degree from University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. From there, she went on to teach at the Cleveland School of Music, and finally Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa, from which she retired in 1995.

It was at Westmar where she met her husband, Arthur Larson, a Westmar history professor, and they married in 1967. Their daughter Laura was born in 1971. Her biggest legacy is the hundreds of piano students, both private and college level, that she instructed. Some of the most notable moments in her career were her lecture recitals on women composers. She also accompanied countless singers, instrumentalists, and the Westmar Chorale. In addition, she provided piano and organ services for many churches over the years, including Calvary United Methodist and Presbyterian United Church of Christ in LeMars, and most recently at Westminster Presbyterian in Austin, Minnesota, where she moved to be near daughter Laura. Her musical touch was special and appreciated by all who heard her play.

She is survived by her daughter Laura of Austin, and many nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and nephews.