THOMPSON - James M. Larson, age 81 of Thompson, died Sunday, November 9, 2008 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.
Funeral service will be Thursday, November 13th at 10:30 AM at Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson with Pastor Mark Decker officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Thompson with the Thompson VFW Post providing military rites.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 PM on Wednesday, November 12th at the funeral home.
Jim was born September 9, 1927 to Arthur and Elsie (Johnson) Larson. He was confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church. He graduated from Thompson Community School in 1945. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp in the fall of his senior year. He was sent to New Jersey for fixed wire communication school, then to Biloxi, MS where he served as an instructor. He played the French horn in the base military band at Scott Air Field in St. Louis, Missouri. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal in November of 1946 and returned to Thompson where he joined his father as the third generation in the family owned hardware store. He and Barb operated the hardware store for 32 years.
Jim married Barbara Fraizer August 21, 1949 at Bethany Lutheran Church and was married for 59 years. He was an avid sportsman and shared his love of the outdoors with his family. Many memories were made at the family cabin at Green Lake in Minnesota. Jim and Barb enjoyed motorcycling around town and across the country. He was a school bus driver for over 30 years and was a security guard at Winnebago Ind. for over 12 years. He was a member of the Bethany Lutheran Church, the American Legion, and the Thompson Businessmenís Club.
He is survived by his wife Barb and his children: Mark (Diane) Larson of Forest City, Gary (Laurie) Larson of Thompson, Kristi Farland of West Des Moines, Kari (Dan Jorgensen) Porter of Thompson, and Tom (Katrina) Larson of Baxter. Grandchildren: Mike Larson, Brad (Kandice) Heitland, Nichole Enright, Luke (Tamara) Larson, Kyle and Cory Farland, Travis, Andy, and Jason Porter, Carter and Piper Larson. Great Grandchildren: Elizabeth, Hailee and Tyler Enright, Mikaela and McKenna Larson, Matthew Beckman. Great Great Grandchild: Lily Beckman. His sister, Mary Howe of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Betty Ronning and infant son, Leo Arthur.
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