Sarah Larson

On Friday afternoon, December 6, 2019, Sarah Juliana (Hentges) Larson was called home after 104 fruitful and productive years on earth.  She passed away peacefully at her home in the Windmill Ponds Assisted Living facility in Alexandria, MN with family by her side.

Sarah was born June 3, 1915 in Alexandria, MN to Clement and Helen (Quigley) Hentges and was baptized into the Catholic faith by at St. Mary’s Church by Fr. Welp.  When just one month old, the family moved to a farm ten miles north of Osakis near Belle River, MN.  Sarah participated and lettered in high school basketball and was active with the Girl Scouts.  She graduated in 1934 and then attended St. John’s School of Nursing in Fargo, ND.  She became a registered nurse and enrolled in the Red Cross.  She worked in the maternity ward at the Methodist Hospital in Los Angeles, and it was in California in 1939 that she married the love of her life, Sherman L. Larson at St. Vincent’s Catholic Church in Los Angeles.  Sarah worked for a time in Bremerton, WA as head of their surgical floor and when they returned to Minnesota, she was hired as head nurse of the maternity and nursery ward at Eithel Hospital in Minneapolis.  The Larsons then bought the Shady Oaks Trailer Court in Rosemont, MN and Sarah continued working in Minneapolis as a private-duty nurse.  In 1947, the Larsons bought the Hanson Funeral Home and Furniture Store in Osakis, MN.  Sarah returned to school and received her funeral director’s license from the University of MN.  She helped run their business and also took care of bookkeeping and sales.  After ten years, they sold their funeral home to Wilson and Mary Roy and moved to Sioux City, IA, where they purchased a large funeral firm from W. Harry Christy.  While living in Sioux City, Sarah was active as a member of the Sioux City Womens Club, having served two years as President.  She also belonged to the Quoto Club (also serving as president,) the YWCA and the Literary Club.  She belonged to the American Cancer Society, serving both as a board member and the chairperson of their education department.  For many years Sarah helped finance a medical mission in South Korea, sending many boxes of vitamins, clothing and financial aid.

In 1983, the Larsons sold their business and retired.  They returned to Osakis and enjoyed their home on the lake.  Sarah was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church, the Osakis Christian Mothers and the St. Elizabeth Mission Circle.  In 1948 she also organized the local chapter of the Daughters of Isabella and served as its first president.  In addition, she was active in the Orchard Group, a birthday club, and volunteered her time at the Osakis Nutrition Center.  Though they never had children of their own, Sarah and Sherm believed in education and generously donated toward tuition and scholarships at both the Osakis Public School and St. Agnes Parochial School.  In 2003, Sarah sold her home and moved to Windmill Ponds in Alexandria and served as a member of the advisory committee at Windmill for several years.  She attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

In addition to her hobbies of fishing, reading, antique collecting and socializing, Sarah especially loved to travel.  She spent months in Mexico, Hawaii, Guatamala, Italy, Austria, Alaska, and even went on a ten day barge trip down the Campbell River in Canada.  She was a life-long learner, who enjoyed meeting new people and experiencing new things.  Always well dressed and looking her best, Sarah prided herself on her independence, her agility and clear headedness even into her triple-digits!  She was a remarkably gifted woman who throughout her life directed her kindness, caring and talents to help others.  Her life and career served as a beautiful example.  Blessed be her memory.

Sarah is survived by many nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends.  She is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, William and Antone Hentges, two sisters, Eunice Hentges, Helen Hentges Hintzen and brother and sister-in-laws.

Funeral services for Sarah will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 10:30 am at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Osakis with Fr. David Petron officiating.  Interment is at the Calvary Cemetery in Osakis next to her husband, Sherman.