Curtis O. Larson

Curtis O. Larson, 86, Moorhead, MN, died on April 5, 2005, under hospice care surrounded by family and special friends, in Moorhead Health Care Center.Curtis was born on April 24, 1918, in Benson, MN, where he grew up and attended school, graduating from high school there. He married Amber Hilleren in 1939 in Benson, MN. He served in the U.S. Army in WWII from 1945 until 1946, serving in Japan. When he was discharged, he moved to Alexandria, MN, where he worked in advertising at the Park Region Echo Newspaper for 18 years. He married Adeline E. "Pat" Wirtzfeld on March 16, 1959, and they moved to Fargo-Moorhead area, where he worked for the Minnesota Conservation Federation Newspaper. In 1977, they moved to Vista, California, where he worked in maintenance for two churches. They retired and moved back to Moorhead in 1984 to be closer to family. In retirement, he did sign painting for local businesses. Pat died on February 20, 2001.Curtis is survived by five sons, Frank Larson, Wahpeton, ND, John Larson, Fargo, ND, David Esther Larson, Salem, OR, Kurt Yvonne Larson, Champlin, MN, and Tom Betlock; six daughters, Susan Rick Ludwig, West Fargo, ND, Mary Jo Kenneth Abel, Fargo, ND, Jeanne Charles Erickson, Moorhead, MN, Carole Velde, Kansas City, MO, Janet Jack Antil, Stacy, MN, Karen Ubich, Mohave, AZ; one sister, Violet Jacobson, Benson, MN; twenty-five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and the family dog, Cracker. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat, his parents, three brothers, LuWayne, Cliff and Julius, and two sisters, Myrtle Lindahl and Hazel Schmidt.