Helen Joan Larson, 100

Published 7:10 am Monday, July 11, 2016

Helen Larson

Helen Joan Larson, 100, of Austin Minnesota, died July 3, 2016, at Good Samaritan nursing home of St Ansgar, Iowa.

Helen was born in Wells, Minnesota, on Oct. 19, 1915, to Frank and Mary Kasperek. Helen was one of five children. She married the love of her life Burnette J. “Lars” Larson of Albert Lea Minnesota on June 12, 1939. In their first ten years of marriage Helen and Lars worked and lived in several towns in southern Minnesota and South Dakota before settling in Austin in 1949 and joining St Augustine Parish. Helen was the neighborhood mom and welcomed all the kids with cookies and Koolaid. She taught us all to enjoy life and cherish our friends and family.

In addition to being a loving wife and mother Helen was the St. Augustine elementary school librarian, bookkeeper for her husband’s business and volunteer at the Philomathian Bookstore. Helen was born with a green thumb and was an avid gardener and enjoyed sharing her flowers with anyone who passed by. She also enjoyed the fellowship of her lady friends at weekly afternoon card games. Her favorite color was blue, she loved tulips and never turned down a good bowl of ice cream.

In her years at Good Samaritan Helen made numerous friends and enjoyed the activities and socializing. She is very grateful to all the staff for their tireless efforts and superior care. She always mentioned David Vote the office manager and Grace Johnson her volunteer guardian angel who was with her to the end. I know she felt blessed to spend her last years with all those wonderful people.

Besides her parents Helen was preceded in death by her husband Burnette, her sister Genevieve and three brothers Louie, Edward and Casimir “Boop.”

Helen is survived by two children: Judy Larson of Seguin, Texas, and Brian (Marilyn) Larson of Dover, Delaware; five grandchildren: Richard McCoy of Lakewood, Colorado, Christine Murphy of Pine Junction, Colorado, Christopher Larson of Magnolia, Delaware, Benjamin Larson of Hillsbourgh, New Jersey, Patrick Larson of Asheville, North Carolina; four great-grandchildren; sister-In-Law Marcella Peterson of St. Charles; and nephews Kirt Melton and Perry Peterson.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Jim Steffes officiating. There will be a 5 p.m. CCW rosary on Monday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Tuesday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Condolences may be left online at www.mayerfh.com.