Larson, Helen Elizabeth (Kersten) -- 1909 - 2000

STOKES, KERSTEN, LARSON, SCHREIBER

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 7/29/2010 at 19:49:57

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, June 27, 2000

Helen Larson

Helen Elizabeth Larson, 91, of Decorah died Saturday, June 24, 2000, at Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital, of complications from an automobile accident.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 29, at 11 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Decorah, with the Rev. Jim Dale officiating.

The Rev. Kristen Kvamme will be the organist. Ben Kirby will perform a tuba solo.

A private family burial will be held at Phelps Cemetery. The Fjelstul Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Helen (Kersten) Larson was born March 11, 1909, in St. Paul, Minn., the daughter of Louie and Mabel (Stokes) Kersten.

She received her early education in St. Paul, Minn., Aberdeen, S.D., and Minneapolis, Minn. She graduated from South High School. Helen received a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Minnesota in 1931, taking a five-year nursing program.

She was united in marriage with Lester Eugene Larson, M.D., of Decorah June 6, 1935, at Epworth Methodist Church in Minneapolis.

The couple had lived in Decorah since 1935 with the exception of one year in Idaho at a United States Naval Training Base during World War II. Her husband served in the Navy for four years in the Pacific.

Helen was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Decorah. She belonged to Winneshiek County TBC Society, which was responsible for establishing the county nursing program.

Helen was a charter member of AAUW and a life member since 1978, a member of Oneota Golf and Country Club since 1935 and of PEO for over 50 years.

Other memberships included the Winneshiek County Nurses Association and affiliations with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the Elks. Helen was a co-chairman for a previous bond issue in Decorah. She enjoyed traveling throughout the world.

Survivors include two children, Corrine Elizabeth (Larson) Schreiber and husband Jerry of Spicewood, Texas, and Kersten Eugene Larson and wife June of Cedar Rapids; grandson and four great-grandchildren, Randy Larson and wife Crystal and Joshua, Amy, Caleb and Andrew of Cedar Rapids; granddaughter Jonna Schreiber of Arlington, Texas; and one brother, Miles S. Kersten of Minneapolis, Minn.

Helen Larson was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lester, who died April 30, 1990; and one son, John Edward Larson, who died March 31, 1936.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.