Clarence Orlo Larson

Clarence was born in Miles City, MT on June 4, 1924, the first son of Ole and Clara (Stamness) Larson. He grew up in Minnesota before his induction into the US Army during World War II, where he served in the Infantry in France and Germany. During the Korean Conflict, Mr. Larson was called to the Army Reserve and worked in Communications.

With his brother and their parents, Clarence moved to Scholls, Oregon in 1952, and on July 5, 1955, he married Viola Colsen in Hillsboro. He was part owner of the Larson Store, and had a 1/5 stake in a portable saw mill. He then went to work as a process technician for plastic molding, working for Sawyer’s, G.A.F., Viewmaster International, Tyco, and Mattel. After several tries at “retirement,” including having worked as a night watchman for Mattel for a number of years, Clarence was able to enjoy his lifelong interests of hunting and fishing (sea, shore, river, stream, and lake), and travel with Viola, the couple having taken several cruises and trips together to locations such as Hawaii, the Mediterranean, Alaska, Scandinavia, and New Zealand.

Viola passed away in 2000. Clarence will be remembered and missed by his family:

Three children, Cheryl Larson of Hillsboro, Duane Larson and wife Diane of Gladstone, and Laura Bowen and husband Charles of Beaverton;

brother Miles Larson of Cornelius;

grandchildren Charles Bowen, Jr and Ashley Bowen, and Alec Larson and Kristina Larson;

and by one great-granddaughter, Annelise Bowen.

Clarence was very generous with his time and financial donations to a large number of charitable causes, among them the VFW, Easter Seals, March of Dimes, Wounded Warriors, Disabled Veterans, Loaves and Fishes, the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association, and his family would be grateful for donations in his name to any of these organizations.

A memorial service with military honors will take place at 2 PM on Sunday, January 12, 2014 at Young’s Funeral Home, 11831 SW Pacific Hwy in Tigard. Mr. Larson will be laid to rest privately beside Viola at Willamette National Cemetery.