Edward Rudolph Larson

Age 101 of Kissimmee, FL passed away peacefully on January 28, 2020. Edward was born in Santiago de Cuba to John Edward and Elizabeth (Larsson) Erickson on June 5, 1918. His father passed away one week before Edward was born and is buried in Bayate, Cuba.

Edward came to the United States in 1920 with his mother and sister. Elizabeth remarried in 1922 to Emil Larson and lived in Chicago, IL until 1924 when the family moved to John Erickson’s homestead in Steele County, ND. In 1934, the family moved to Cooperstown, ND where Edward graduated from Cooperstown High School in 1936. He attended NDSSS and started his auto body career in Minneapolis, MN, where he met the love of his life, Mabel Bettenhausen, marrying her on August 16, 1942. He enlisted in the Army Air Force in October 1942 and was sent overseas to Dhaka, India stationed there for 16 months. After World War II, Edward and Mabel lived in Jamestown, ND for one year before moving back to Cooperstown in 1947 and started a body shop with William Turner in the Adam Chevrolet building. He also worked at Main Motors for a number of years before opening his own shop in 1963 known as Eddie’s Auto Body Shop. He retired in 1979 and became an accomplished oil painter and wood worker prior to moving to Orlando, FL in 1985.

Edward was a long time member of Hofva Lutheran Church in rural Finley, ND and Salem Lutheran Church in Orlando, FL. He served 27 years as a volunteer fireman in Cooperstown and was Fire Chief for three of those years.

Edward is lovingly remembered by his children Kathryn (Tom) Ferguson, Jane Anesta, Paul Larson, and David (Sandy) Larson; his grandchildren Angela (John) Boydston, Kelly (Frank) Nystrom, David (Stefanie) Anesta, Nicholas (Shannon) Larson, and Jenette (Ross) Zilka; his step grandchildren Lindsey Ferguson and Ben Ferguson; his great grandchildren Caroline Nystrom, Sarah Jane Nystrom, Lucy Anesta, William Anesta, Rhett Zilka and his step great grandchild Ethan Helton.

Edward is preceded in death by his devoted wife Mabel of 74 years, sister Olga Pella, Son-in-Law Joe Anesta, infant brother Algot, parents John and Elizabeth Erickson and stepfather Emil Larson.

A memorial service will be held at Salem Lutheran Church, 7900 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32819, on Friday, January 31 at 11:30AM. Interment will take place at a later date at Hofva Lutheran Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Salem Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 7900 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32819; and Hofva Lutheran Cemetery Association, attn. Denise Huso, 12824 8th St. NE, Finley, ND 58230. Edward’s family wishes to thank the staff at Good Samaritan Village and Vitas Hospice for the exceptional care provided to Edward during his residency, as well as the volunteers of Salem Lutheran Church. Condolences may be offered online at www.woodlawnfuneralhomegotha.com