Roger Joseph Larson

Roger J. Larson, of Montevideo, died Monday, June 3, 2002 at his home in Montevideo at the age of 68.

Funeral services were conducted on Friday, June 7, 2002 at 10:30 A.M. at Salem Lutheran Church in Montevideo with Rev. Wayne Kopitzke officiating.  Burial was in the Strombeck Lutheran Cemetery.

Roger Joseph Larson was born on September 21, 1933 in Madison, Mn to Hjalmer and Agnes (Nelson) Larson.  He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Madison.  He attended District 78 schools and graduated from Madison High School in 1951.  In 1955 he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture from the University of Minnesota.  In 1963 he received a Master’s Degree in Extension Education from Colorado State University.  In 1956 he was united in marriage to Barbara Christensen in Clarkfield.  They lived in rural Montevideo and were blessed with two children, Ronald in 1958 and Mari in 1964.   Roger was employed by the Chippewa Co. Extension Service - University of Minnesota for 43 years before retiring in 1998.  He received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agents and received state and national recognition for his communications and agricultural work.  He had two opportunities to assist County Agents abroad - Dominica and Saint Vincent in the Caribbean.  He was president of the Minnesota Association of County Agricultural Workers and of Epsilon Sigma Phi, an honorary Extension worker fraternity.  He was a long time member of Salem Lutheran Church and served as Chairperson of the Council, taught Sunday School, was a voting member at 7 National Assemblies and served on the Synod Council.  Roger was a member of Kiwanis and served as Club President and as Lt. Governor.  He was on the County Fair Board, Chamber of Commerce Board, Community Education Board, Habitat For Humanity Board, Sr. Citizens Board and the Food Shelf.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; a son, Dr. Ronald Larson of Kalamazoo, MI; a daughter, Rev. Dr. Mari Larson and her husband, Gary Werbowski of Zimmerman, MN; a sister-in-law, Shirley Larson of Minneapolis, as well as by several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents - Hjalmer and Agnes Larson; brothers, Leonard and Ellsworth Larson; a sister Norma Powell and his parents-in-law, Oren and Minnie Christensen.