J. Vernon Larson, of rural Watson, died on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at the Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo at the age of 86. Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 1:30 P.M. at the Watson Lutheran Church with Rev. Larry Olson officiating. Interment will be at Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday afternoon and evening with the family present from 5 - 7 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home in Montevideo. Jay Vernon Larson was born on August 5, 1922 in Big Bend Township of Chippewa Co., MN to Jacob and Atta (Running) Larson. He was baptized and confirmed at Big Bend Lutheran Church and attended school at the "Stoen School". On September 8, 1946 he was united in marriage to Gertrude Oddan at the Big Bend Parsonage. They farmed in Big Bend Township for four years before moving to a farm in Kragero Township in 1950. They lived there until June of this year when they moved to the Luther Haven Nursing Home. He farmed for many years before retiring from farming in 1996. He also worked for the city of Watson for several years. He had been a member of Big Bend Lutheran Church and Zion Lutheran Church, and was currently a member of Watson Lutheran Church. He had served as an usher and a Trustee for his churches. He had also been a member of the Watson Lions and Appleton Sportsmen Clubs. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards and farming. He is survived by his wife, Gertrude; a son, Demore Larson and his wife Connie of Appleton, MN; a granddaughter, Sara Rupert and her husband Peter of St. Paul, MN; 2 great grandchildren: Andrew and John Rupert; a sister-in-law, Fern Larson of Montevideo as well as by a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Laurie Jean in infancy; 3 brothers: Elroy, Lloyd and Art Larson and by a sister, Alice Berven.