Larson, Francis 1918 - 2016
LARSON, HAGA, OPSAHL, YOUNG, TANGEN, KAESER, HOLSTAD, YOUNGFLOOD, FRYE
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 10/28/2016 at 13:00:05
Francis Larson, age 98, of Decorah, IA, died Saturday evening, October 22, 2016 at Patty Elwood Center in Country Winds Manor, Cresco, Iowa.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at Madison Lutheran Church in rural Ridgeway, IA, with Rev. Jeff Hansen officiating. Burial will be in the Madison Lutheran Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 25 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and on Wednesday beginning at 10:00 a.m., one hour before the service, at Madison Lutheran Church.
Francis Larson was born on September 15, 1918, the son of Lloyd and Gena (Haga) Larson in Madison Township west of Decorah, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at the Madison Lutheran Church where he was a life-long member.
As a youngster he attended country schools through the 8th grade and loved his dog and pony. When his parents were moving into town during 8th grade, he lived with his aunt and uncle on their farm to be able to finish the school year. His parents later moved back to a farm.
One of his memories as a young adult was going to South Dakota with friends and actually sitting under Lincoln’s nose at Mount Rushmore when they were carving it.
On December 15, 1943, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Opsahl at the Madison Lutheran Parsonage. They were blessed with three children: Dean, Diane, and Dennis.
They lived on several farms before buying their present farm in 1953. They continued farming until 1992 when he retired. In February of 2013 they moved to Wellington Place Assisted Living and in February of 2015, he moved to Country Winds Manor in Cresco.
They enjoyed traveling and going to the lake with family and friends. He was a great woodworker, making grandfather clocks for himself and his three children, gun cabinets, and whatever else his family asked him to make.
He loved to dance, spending many Saturday nights at Matters or the Highlandville School. He enjoyed riding bike, motor cycle, and his 4-wheeler. He enjoyed going to his children’s, grand-children’s, and even great-grandchildren’s sporting events, concerts, etc.
Back in the 1990’s he decided he would like a muzzle loader and that was the beginning of the “Larson” black powder hunting which included anyone big or small who wanted to carry a gun or walk along side.
He was a very quiet person but enjoyed telling stories of things that happened to him during his life.
Francis is survived by his wife Dorothy; one daughter, Diane (Dennis) Young of Decorah; one son, Dennis (Debra) Larson of Decorah; one daughter-in-law: Caryl Larson of Decorah; ten grandchildren: Dena (Marc) Tangen, Lauri (Todd) Kaeser, Steven (Maria) Larson, Doreen (Dave) Holstad, Dawn (Harold) Youngblood, Darren (Dianne) Young, Jason (Melissa) Larson, Mike (Amber) Larson, Adam (Kim) Larson and David (Sara) Larson; 21 great-grandchildren: Ryan & Michael (Jess) Tangen, Kyle & Kayla Frye, Josh & Elizabeth Larson, Danielle & Daiton Holstad, Isaac, Jacob, Hunter, & Kaiden Youngblood, Alex & Emma Young, Kylie, Blake & Mia Larson, Will & Luc Larson, Owen & Kane Larson; and by 6 great great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son Dean on June 13, 2014; and an infant sister, Ethel.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Madison Lutheran Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen