Larson, Bernard H. "Bernie" 1928 - 2024
LARSON, SUER, GREGG, LANTZ, WALTERS, ANDERSON, FELL, COUNSELL, KELLY
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/16/2024 at 09:52:59
Bernard H. (Bernie) Larson passed away at Wellington Place Nursing Home in Decorah, Iowa on August 8, 2024.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 16, 2024, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water St., in Decorah. Burial will be in Phelps cemetery following the service.
Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. until the time of service on Friday at the funeral home.
Bernard was born on September 18, 1928, to Herbert F. Larson and Elizabeth E. (Suer) Larson at Mercy Hospital in Fort Dodge, IA. He was the first grandchild born of Warner and Amanda Larson of Gowrie, IA, and was named after his maternal grandfather, Bernard Suer, of Lehigh, IA, a Civil War veteran.
Bernard began his schooling at Burnside Iowa Consolidated Schools in 1934 and graduated from Burnside, Iowa High School in 1946 as class valedictorian. He also had a stellar 11-year 4-H club career, achieving many states 4-H club honors and representing Iowa at two national 4-H events.
Bernard married Darlene Gregg on October 29, 1950, at Woodlawn Church of Christ in Lake City, IA. They spent their first 9 years of marriage helping his father on the home farm south of Otho, IA. In 1960, they moved to a farm northeast of Lake City, IA, along with their two sons, Kent and Brent, where they farmed for the next 8 years. In 1968, they purchased and moved to a cow/calf and grain farm northwest of Mabel, MN where they lived and farmed for nearly 38 years.
In 2005, Bernie and Dar retired from active farming and moved to Decorah, IA where Bernie was employed by Luther College in grounds maintenance, and by Decorah Community Schools as a bus driver. During his lifetime, he also represented several seed companies as a dealer for 54 years and was a livestock weighmaster at Lanesboro Sales Commission at Lanesboro, MN for over 21 years.
Bernie was a perfectionist in whatever he pursued in life. He literally “lived” Czeck-Bohemian music, whether listening or dancing to the music 24/7 from his young age of 9 years to the time of his death. He often said that his “Larson” name may be Swedish, but that his blood flowed “Czech!”
He had a very strong faith in “God’s Plan for His Life” and an everlasting belief in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.
Bernard is survived by his sons B. Kent Larson of Stewartville, MN, and Brent G. (Joyce) of Rochester, MN, 9 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, 1 sister-in-law, Shirley Gregg of Algona, IA, very special friends Garrett South of Chaska, MN, John Topic of St. Paul, MN, Tobius Schmidt of Nelson, New Zealand, 4 first cousins on the Larson side, and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Bernard was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Darlene on September 8, 2020; his parents Herbert and Elizabeth Larson; father and mother-in-law Paul and Irma Gregg; sister Frances Lantz; brothers-in-law Horace Lantz, Earl Walters, Floyd Anderson, Leonard Gregg, and Larry Fell; sisters-in-law Pauline Walters, Marianne Anderson, Doris Fell; nephews Stanly Anderson and Jeff Gregg, and nieces Doreen Counsell and Dawn Kelly; and great-grandson Porter Larson.
Those who knew Bernie will surely remember the stories he loved to tell of listening to and dancing with Dar to his beloved Czech polka music. Even in his last days, listening to this music brought a smile to his face and peace to his heart and mind
Source: Helms Funeral Home database
Phelps Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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