Lawrence M. Larson

Lawrence M. Larson, age 92, passed away, Tuesday, February 1, 2017 at the Ecuman Sand Prairie Assisted Living Community in St. Peter, Minnesota where he resided for the last 5 years.   Lawrence Larson was born and raised on a farm near Brownsdale, Minnesota to Carl A. and Hannah (Monson) Larson November 5, 1924.  Lawrence was the youngest of seven children (Stella Luthe, Alma Mallan, Chester, George, Ruth DeMets, and Helen) all who have preceded him in death except for his loving sister, Helen Rushton, who lives in Austin, Minnesota.

 Lawrence, along with his wife of 65 years, Arlene M. (Helleck), farmed outside the Austin, Minnesota area for 25 years of their marriage.  Following that time, Lawrence became a passionate salesman working with other farmers through feed and seed sales to improve the health of the farm animals while helping the farmer realize their highest production.   Upon his retirement, Lawrence set aside over 100 acres on his 270-acre farm near LeRoy, Minnesota into the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) program where 3 ponds along with multiple tree groves, wild flowers and prairie grasses were planted to support wildlife.  It was a thrill for him to see the song birds, the pheasants, the deer and the fish multiply on this property.  These 100 acres will be preserved to perpetuity.  He had always hoped that his grandchildren would come back and build homes on the RIM land.  “He has the perfect, beautiful building sites picked out for them.”

 Lawrence is survived by his children, in order: Daniel (Mari) Larson, West Des Moines, IA; Karmen (Joseph) Artmann, Arvada, Colorado; Kathy (Robert – deceased) Walton, Williston, North Dakota; Steve (Sandy) Larson, Ellsworth, Wisconsin; Mary (Steve) Fisher, St. Peter, Minnesota and Leif Larson, Eugene, Oregon.  And many loving grandchildren: Sonja Nelson, Des Moines, IA; Rene’ Larson, Ft. Collins, CO; Emily Gienapp, West Des Moines, IA; Peter D. Larson, Longmont, CO; Matthew Sherwood, Des Moines, IA; Candace Sherwood, Des Moines, IA; Scott Carlson, Baltimore, MD; Sharon Carlson, Concord, MA; Joe Walton, Williston, ND; Nina Kainz, Fergus Falls, MN; Rachel Braun, Mankato, MN; Jim Fisher, St. Peter, MN; and Travis Fisher, Mankato, MN; and sixteen (16) great grandchildren.

 Lawrence’s body was donated to the Mayo Clinic for research and teaching purposes.  The celebration of Lawrence’s life and memory is delayed until late Spring or early Summer of 2017.  The family will send out a timely notice to those who want to share in this celebration.

 A special thank you to St. Croix Hospice and to the Sand Prairie St. Peter, Minnesota staff for their loving care and support for Lawrence in his final days.