John Larson

FUNERAL NOTICE for JOHN LARSON
John Larson, age 63 of Osakis died unexpectedly on February 23, 2016 at the Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria, MN. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 2:00 pm at the Sauk Valley Lutheran Church in rural Osakis. Interment is in the church cemetery. Visitation hours are from 3 - 9 pm on Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Sauk Valley Church and again at the church on Sunday beginning at 12 noon.

John Louis Larson, age 63, of Osakis passed away at the Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria, MN from severe internal injuries following an accident unloading wood from a dump truck at his home on Tuesday, February 23, 2016. John generously gave the gift of life as an organ and tissue donor.
John was born Sept. 8, 1952 in Alexandria at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital. He was baptized as an infant and confirmed at Sauk Valley Lutheran Church. John attended country school at District 17 in rural Osakis, graduating from Osakis High School in 1970. From John's early teens he was the 'go to' man of the neighborhood, pitching out calf pens by hand, shoveling grain, picking rocks by hand with five gallon buckets, baling small square bales all though the summer season and filling in milking cows and doing chores for many neighbors who needed time off. After graduation he joined the National Guard, spending the summer at Fort Knox. John hauled milk cans from farmers for the Osakis Creamery for a few years in the early to mid '70s. He worked for Larry Brynjulfson feeding pigs from the late 1980's into the early 1990's.
On August 1, 1987 John married Bonnie Jill Johnson, also of Osakis. To this union were born four children. John was a loving husband and father who found so much joy in raising his family. He loved going to their school sporting, theatre, and musical events from elementary school all the way to their extracurricular events at Bethel University and the Association Free Bible School. John ran the time clock at nearly every home wrestling match for the Osakis Silverstreaks, doing this for about 30 years. He raised beef cow/calf pairs for 36 years and had 100 cows at his peak. He fed every bit of silage with a wheelbarrow from a silage pile and he emptied his 2-14X30' silos by hand. He tilled the land that he owned raising corn, alfalfa, and soybeans. When his boys got old enough to help pick rock and feed silage he was overjoyed. He started Larson Tree Service in April of 2006 with son, Wendell and enjoyed every minute of the tree cutting and especially talking with the customers. One of his favorite comments to customers after they complimented him on the good yard cleanup he would say, "I've told the boys since the day we started we need to leave the yard cleaner then when we arrive." Before he started using higher tech equipment, he cut trees using a ladder and then graduated to a 50' John Deere grain elevator. When it came to work it was, "the harder the better," especially when it was his favorite task - cutting wood with the saw rig involving many people. One of his favorite investments was a 2-way wood splitter that he enjoyed using with many family, friends, and neighbors. John's philosophy was, "the more the merrier." He also really enjoyed sawing lumber at the late Elvin Klukken's sawmill located on State Highway 27 west of the Gordon Town Hall. More recently he would hire a portable band sawmill to cut lumber. John loved working with all types of wood. He really enjoyed putting up firewood to keep his house warm and providing wood to any neighbor who also heated with wood. He enjoyed collecting scrap iron and pilling up rocks from the farm fields and fence lines. John was a man who never said "no" when he was asked to help out. He was an active member of Sauk Valley Lutheran Church, serving as past president, trustee, deacon, sexton, and custodian (taking over in the early 2000's for his dad when he was no longer able to do
so.) John valued his faith, loved his time in church and spent many hours reading his Bible, along with other Christian books. John was a strong spiritual leader and role model in the community, exemplifying Christ's love and selfless nature. His love for the Lord and his strong faith overflowed into his children and radiated to people around him. Because of his deep, rich bass voice, John was asked to sing solos for many occasions, often "The Lord's Prayer." He was overjoyed to have his wife or daughter accompany him. He loved singing in the church choir, the Gordon Men's Chorus and participating in men's quartets. He always had the radio on, often listening to hymns and many Christian talk shows.
He will be dearly missed by his wife, Bonnie Larson, Osakis; children, Timothy Larson, Osakis, Wendell Larson, Osakis, Benjamin Larson, Fergus Falls, and Emily Larson, Osakis; mother, Irene Larson, Osakis; siblings, Kathryn (Loren) Fiskness, James (Denise) and Karl (Carol) Larson, all of Osakis; several nieces, nephews. Preceded in death by father, Andrew Larson and niece, Kristen Larson.
Funeral services were Sun., Feb. 28, 2 pm, Sauk Valley Lutheran Church, Osakis. Musicians were the Gordon Men's Chorus with Juanita Klukken as accompanist. Burial was at the church cemetery. Honorary bearers were the Gordon Men's Chorus, Jason Johnson, Levi Dunn, Sam Larson, David Larson. Active bearers were his sons, brothers, Dan Hagen and Sheldon Larson.
Memorials preferred to Bethel University, Association Free Lutheran Bible School, Gideons or Central MN Chaplaincy.
Arrangements by Roy-Hetland Funeral Home, Osakis