Dean Larson, age 69, of Decorah, IA, died on Friday, June 13, 2014, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 17, 2014, at the Madison Lutheran Church, 2658 Madison Road, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Jeff Hansen presiding.
Dean Francis Larson was born on September 8, 1944, the son of Francis and Dorothy (Opsahl) Larson in Decorah, IA. He was baptized on Oct. 1, 1944, and confirmed also at the Madison Lutheran Church, where he was a life-long member. He went to country schools through eighth grade and then attended Decorah High School where he graduated with the class of 1962. In high school, he loved to wrestle and play football. He was captain of the football team and was honored with receiving the Russ Halverson Award and earned Wigwam Wisemen High School All American honor. On November 10, 1963, he was united in marriage to Caryl Berge of Decorah, at the First Lutheran Church, and they were blessed with three children. Dean worked in the Treasurer's Office at the Winneshiek County Court House and was a janitor at Thomas Roberts High School before beginning his 30 year career with United Parcel Service. He started first in delivering and then later driving semi. Dean was a big, strong, quiet, gentle and caring person who loved to tease and make people laugh. He was proud to have been one of the Nordic Fests' first 100 pound rock throw winners. When you saw Dean, he was usually driving his jeep with 1 or 2 dogs in the back. He loved vacationing with family and friends, whether it was to the east or west coast, Alaska, the Bahamas or in between. But most of all, he loved the yearly trips to a cabin on a lake with family, extended family, friends and neighbors. He loved the annual "Larson black powder deer hunting" in October which included anyone big or small who wanted to carry a gun or walk along. After retirement, he thought we should learn how to make lefse and other Norwegian foods. After mastering lefse, "kind of" he had several family lefse making parties. Dean loved hunting, fishing, watching his children and grandchildren participate in all sporting and extra-curricular activities. He loved nature and being in the woods, as well as, taking anyone for a ride on his Ranger. Dean loved his church and church family.
Dean was preceded in death by his grandparents: Lloyd & Gena Larson and Clarence & Elma Opsahl. His father and mother-in-law: Henry and Nora Berge. One sister-in-law: LuVerne Snell. Four brothers-in-law: Lloyd Berge, Virgil Snell, Selmer Peterson & Harold Dehning.
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