Alice Louise Erickson Larson quietly left this earth on November 10, 2024. She was born March 3, 1943 in Jamestown, ND to Henry and Elva (Walters) Erickson. She was the first born of their family and the first Erickson grandchild; breaking the mold became Alice’s pattern for life.
Alice married James Larson in June 1965, and they settled into married student housing in UND where they made and continued many friendships. She graduated from UND with a degree in accounting and became the second female CPA in the state of North Dakota. She supported Jim getting his PhD as they moved to Lexington, KY for two years.
At a time where women were struggling to be recognized in the workplace, Alice had started a journey. She won a Bush Leadership Fellowship to the University of Oregon and earned her master’s in public health administration. There was no stopping her now! She led Northeast Human Services in Grand Forks, became a CFO in the University of Minnesota Dept. of Family Practice, the CEO of Winona Health, helping public healthcare to flourish financially while accomplishing community health goals.
Mom loved having family and friends to the cabin to laugh, waterski, and feast on blueberry pancakes that barely fit the plate. She was glad to be able to reconnect with her horse-crazy side at age 56 by having a horse of her own and took advantage of riding in Maplewood often and the Badlands a few times.
Alice is survived by her husband of 59 years James Larson, two daughters Pam (Mike) Daly and Christine (Stale) Ardal, one very precious and adored granddaughter Maria Ardal, one sister Jan (Gene) Hetletved, two godsons Don and Clint, and many nieces and nephews.
Mom was welcomed into heaven by her parents, two brothers Gary and Marvin, many, many aunts and uncles, special dogs, and her horse Flash.
A private ceremony will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family directs Donations to The Cottage at Ecumen or Hospice of the Red River Valley, both of whom provided exceptional, loving care to mom. Condolences may be expressed at daviddonehower.com.