Evelyn Larsen

Funeral services for Evelyn Larsen, age 83, of St. James will be 11:00am, Saturday, February 11, 2012 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Odin with Rev. Carla Reierson officiating. Burial will be at the St. Olaf Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5pm to 7pm on Friday, February 10, 2102 at Sturm Funeral Home in St. James and will continue one hour before services at the church on Saturday. Evelyn Marie Larsen, age 83, died on February 8, 2012 at the Mayo Clinic Health System- St. James after a ten-year battle with cancer. She was born in Leroy MN on June 2, 1928 to Harry Benson and Dorothy Errington Benson. She graduated as salutatorian of her class from St. James High School. She married Kenneth Laingen in 1947 and lived on a farm near Odin where they raised their family. She worked for Watonwan County Public Health and then returned to school to complete her degree in Elementary Education from Mankato State College. She taught for many years in the Mt. Lake School district. After the death of her husband in 1974, she moved off the farm into Odin. She then reconnected with an old high school friend, John (Gom) Larsen and they married in 1978. They lived in Montgomery MN where she assisted him with his dental practice. After retirement, they moved to Stony Lake near Hackensack and also spent many winters in the Rockport TX area where they volunteered for the Chamber of Commerce. They moved back to St. James six years ago. Evy enjoyed many activities including music, cooking, gardening, quilting, birding, fishing, and spending time with her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and husbands Kenneth and John. Evy is survived by daughter, Patty (Bob) Holycross of Cohasset MN, son, Steve (Karen) Laingen of Butterfield MN, one brother, Earl of Summerfield FL, and four step-children, Brian Larsen, David Larsen, Gail O'Brien, Clare Heupel and their families. She has five grandchildren-- Erik (Rachelle) Holycross, Christopher (Mary) Laingen, Brett (Elizabeth) Holycross, Kellee (Jason) Heffele, and Kerri Laingen and seven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brother-in-law, Bruce Laingen of Bethesda MD, sister-in-law, Norma Marsh of Hastings MN, and sister-in-law, Norma Benson of LaCrescent MN. Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society. Visitation 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Friday, February 10, 2012 Sturm Funeral Home, St. James 906 10th Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 11:00 am Saturday, February 11, 2012 St. Olaf Lutheran Church 2488 - 50th Avenue (mail: 201 N. Co Rd 19) Odin, Minnesota, United States Interment Information St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery South of Odin Odin, Minnesota, United States 56160