Clarence Peder Larson 1906-2002

LARSON, MCDONALD, MILLER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 7/14/2013 at 23:34:19

Sloan Starlet
20 March 2002

Clarence Peder Larson, 95, of Healdsburg, California, and formerly of Sloan, Iowa, died Thursday, January 31, 2002, in Santa Rosa, California.

Clarence, commonly referred to by his friends in Iowa by his nickname "Junk" was born July 17, 1906, in Sloan, Iowa, the son of Peder and Myrtle "Minnie" (McDonald) Larson. He was the fourth of nine brothers and sisters. After high school graduation, he attended Iowa University and Morningside College, but did not graduate from either. On June 29, 1929, he married Belva Mae Miller whose father was the minister at the First Christian Church. Together they had two children, Miles and Rawley, and were blessed with four grandchildren, Dirk, Chana, Zachary, and Quinn, and two great-grandchildren, Geoffrey and Gregory. Belva remained the love of his life until her passing on August 23, 1993.

For many years he was a barber in Sloan and many of the older residents in Sloan still have fond memories of the time they spent in his barber chair. He stopped barbering in 1944 and started a hardware store in Eastern Iowa, and remained in the hardware business for 5 years. In 1949, the couple moved to California and he entered the real estate business eventually starting his own brokerage office, which he operated until-retiring in 1978. Although Clarence left Sloan in 1944, he always maintained close emotional ties to his hometown and returned in 1990. He resided in Sloan for seven years until suffering a stroke in 1997. For the last four years of his life, he lived with his son in California. His wishes were to be buried in the Sloan Cemetery beside his wife, Belva, and with his parents and grandparents.

Aside from his wife and family, Clarence had two great loves in life, the insatiable desire to travel to new places and to paint. One of his most cherished and talked about adventures was traveling to California in 1926. Although this is not perceived as a special ac-accomplishment in today's world, back at that time it was a difficult and somewhat dangerous trip. The roads were mostly dirt and the Model T he and his three buddies drove to California had a top speed of 30 miles an hour. He often talked about the fact that he and his friends. wore out 16 tires in making the trip. In 1970 he traveled to Europe and located his father's relatives in Denmark. He struck up a friendship with them that continued until his death. In addition to his passion for travel, he loved to paint and spent a large part of his retirement years painting. During World War II, he drew political cartoons, several of which were submitted to and published by the Sioux City Journal. If he had one unfilled wish in his life, it was that he did not become an artist by vocation.

Clarence was deeply loved by his family and friends and will be missed. They take solace, however, in the fact that he is now with his beloved wife and parents.

Survivors include two sons, Rawley Dale Larson and wife Ruth, of Long Beach,California, and Miles Miller Larson and wife, Janet, of Santa Rosa, California; four grandchildren, Dirk, Chana, Zachary, and Quinn; two great grandchildren, Geoffrey and Gregory; one sister, Sally Turner of Detroit, Michigan: and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Belva; his parents; five brothers; and two sisters.

Services were 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 7, 2002, at the First Christian Church, Sloan, Iowa, with Dr. Emery Killian officiating. Mrs. Wilbur Ray was the organist. Vocalists, Dr. and Mrs. Emery Killian sang the selection, "In The Garden" and "How Great Thou Art".

Casket Bearers were Dirk Larson, Miles Larson, Zachary Larson, Rawley Dale Larson Bob Boostrom and Quinn Larson.

Interment was in the Sloan Cemetery, Sloan, Iowa.

Masonic Services were by Attica Lodge #502, Sloan, Iowa.

Arrangements were by Wood Funeral Home, Sloan. Iowa.