Arvid Larson of Milbank, SD, and formerly of Dawson, MN, died on Sunday, March 4, 2012 at the Golden Living Center in Milbank at the age of 89.
Funeral service was Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 1:30 PM, at Providence Valley Lutheran Church, rural Dawson with Pastor Cheryl Matthews officiating; organist, Joan Zaiser accompanied the congregation in singing “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”, “Borning Cry” and My God, How Wonderful Thou Art” and the soloist, Joy Windingstad singing “On Eagle’s Wings.” Honorary casket bearers were Emil (Eddie) Larson, Jr., Leonard Swenson, Kermit Lund and Harris Dahl and the active were Galen Hegg, Dale Peterson, George Peterson, Mike Swenson, Dean Windingstad, and Gene Zinter. Burial in the church cemetery with Military Honors by Strand-Saboe VFW Post and Oscar Lee American Legion Post of Dawson.
Visitation was Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. at the Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson and at the church for one hour before the service on Thursday.
Arvid Dale Larson was born May 20, 1922, in Providence Township of Lac qui Parle County, MN, to Emil and Nellie (Swenson) Larson. He was baptized and confirmed at Providence Valley Lutheran Church. After graduating from Dawson High School in 1940, Arvid attended Minneapolis Business College. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a flight instructor during WW II and as a fighter pilot during the Korean conflict. He married Helen Holmgren on November 3, 1944, in Pensacola, FL. After World War II, Arvid went into business with his brothers Lloyd, Andy and Lawrence, starting Larson Tiling in the late 1940s. After he was recalled into the military during the Korean conflict, Avid moved his family back to Tracy, MN, where he owned and operated a Coast-to-Coast hardware store from 1953-1968. After selling the store in 1968, he moved to Park Rapids where he was a realtor, and then to Arizona in 1975. Arvid and Helen returned to Minnesota in 1991, and Arvid continued to live in Dawson until moving to Golden Living Center in Milbank two years ago. He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion as well as being an active member at Providence Valley Lutheran Church where he served as treasurer. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodworking.
He is survived by two sons: Ric (Chris Roberts) Larson of Crosby, MN, and Bruce (Linda) Larson of Milbank, SD; five grandchildren: Christopher, Michael, and Matthew Larson, Alicia Entringer and Kelsey Larson; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Emil (Sandy) Larson of Amery, WI; four sisters: Dorothy Main of Richfield, MN, Joyce Amling of Elkport, IA, Emily Sumner of Dawson, MN, and Bonnie (Dick) Ellis of NJ; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Helen; four brothers: Lloyd, Andy, Lawrence, and Vernal Larson; and a sister, Myrtle Peterson.
Memorials are preferred to the Providence Valley Church Cemetery Fund.
Blessed be his memory.