Al Larson, 88, of Argyle, MN, died on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in North Star Manor of Warren, MN, under care of hospice.
Allan Lee Larson was born in Fisher, MN on May 7, 1936 to Ole and Iris (Barnes) Larson. In 1944 they moved to East Grand Forks. His father passed away when he was 9 years old. Al’s mother remarried Warfield Glimsdahl. Al grew up in East Grand Forks, after high school graduation he attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD on a football scholarship. After his freshman year at Augustana he returned home and in the fall enrolled at the University of North Dakota. Al studied teaching at UND and graduated with a Major in Industrial Arts and a Minor in Science. He graduated from UND in 1959. He was inducted into the US Army in September of 1959, serving for 2 years. After his discharge from the Army he went to Livingston, California and taught for 4 years.
While in California he met his wife, Vi, and her five children. Al and Vi were married June 11, 1962. On June 13, in celebration of their vows, Al, Vi and the five kids went to Disneyland. Shortly after their marriage Al adopted the children and they became the Larson Family.
The summer of 1965 Al, Vi and the kids left California and moved to Minnesota with blind faith because Al had no job or specific place to live lined up. That fall Al was hired for a teaching job in the Argyle school district where he continued to teach for 31 years. During that time he was the Industrial Arts instructor and Head Football coach for many years. Also during those 31 years he was the Coach for the B-team in Basketball for several years, the Track Coach for 2 years, the Athletic Director 2 different times and the Dean of Students for 8 years. He retired from Argyle High School in 1996. All of Al’s children graduated from Argyle High School. His 3 sons all served in the US Navy.
Al is survived by his children, Richard (Suzi) Larson of Virginia Beach, VA, Stephen (fiancé Carol Elischer) Larson of Portland, OR, Edith (Bill) Bartels of Moorhead, MN, Patsy (Jerry) Whitlow of Argyle, and John (Anita) Larson of Thief River Falls, MN; and “bonus” daughters, Kim Freeman and Jeanne Lance, Port Orchard, WA. Al has 14 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Vi, who died on January 23, 2022, Al was preceded in death by his father, Ole Larson; parents, Irish and Warfield Glimsdahl; and daughter-in-law, Voni Larson
FUNERAL SERVICE: Tuesday, November 26. 2024, at 10:30 AM, in Our Savior’s Free Lutheran Church, Argyle, MN.
VISITATION: Monday evening, November 25, from 5:00 PM, with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service, in Our Savior’s Free Lutheran; and one hour prior to the funeral.
INTERMENT: Next to his wife, Vi, in St. Rose Catholic Cemetery, Argyle.
MILITARY HONORS: US Army Honor Guard and the Argyle American Legion Post 353.
ARRANGEMENTS: DuBore Funeral Home of Warren, MN.
GUESTBOOK: www.DuBoreFuneralHome.com