Larry Louis Larson Sr.

Larry was born May 22, 1926, in Brainerd, MN to the late George and Winnie Larson. When he was 5 years old the family moved to near West Plains, MO. to eke out a meager depression-era living doing small-scale farming. Larry had a reputation as a hard-working boy at one point having a job picking up rocks in a farmer's field for a dollar a day.

Larry served in World War II in the U.S. Seebee’s, Naval Construction, for 2 years in Guam and Okinawa. He often tells the story of one time jumping under a lifeboat to escape a Japanese kamikaze attack!

After completing his military duties Larry eventually settled into a career as a project engineer in St. Louis, MO, and was a registered licensed land surveyor. He would watch the Gateway Arch being built section by section as he built other areas of the city.

Larry became a Christian when a young man and served as a Deacon and in other teaching positions in the Baptist church. He enjoyed reading the Bible which He had read completely thru over 25 times and reading other Christian books. Even to the day before his homegoing, his night table was stacked with good books.

Larry was an avid softball player, playing fastpitch for many years. He was still pitching at age 50. He also coached his son’s little league for several years. There were 4 generations of ballplayers including his Father, his son, and 3 grandsons. He also loved his family and enjoyed watching his grandsons play baseball very much.

Larry is survived by his wife Mabel-Jean, a son Larry Larson Jr. and his wife Jackie, and 3 grandsons: Robert, Marcos, and Lorenzo - all of Holland, MI. Also, surviving are two sisters: Laurel Batson of Minneapolis, MN, and Hazel Eubanks of Denver, CO along with several nieces and nephews.