(Mary) Virginia Larsen, 90

Published 9:50 am Wednesday, February 18, 2015

(Mary) Virginia Larsen, 90, of Austin and formerly of Bismarck, North Dakota, died Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Our House Memory Care in Austin.

Larsen

She was born Sept. 18, 1924, in Carpio, North Dakota, to Amund and Leonora (Rinde) Halvorsen. After graduating from Carpio High School, she received a degree in music education from Minot State Teachers College. She was the elementary school music teacher in Kenmare, North Dakota, for one year.

On June 8, 1948, Virginia married Bernard Larsen at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Kenmare. Her husband was a widower and father of two children, Virginia and Larry. Three more sons, Daniel, John and Richard, were born into their family. The Larsens moved from Kenmare to Minot, North Dakota, in 1952, and in 1955 to Bismarck, where Virginia and her husband were founding members of the Lutheran Church of the Cross. After his death in 1972, Virginia obtained a degree in special education and taught until her retirement. Music was Virginia’s sustaining joy. She served as organist at Lutheran Church of the Cross for many years and in many other churches and was accompanist at countless weddings, funerals and community gatherings. Virginia also gave piano and organ lessons for many years. Because of advancing Alzheimer’s disease, she moved to Austin in 2004 to be near her daughter and became a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

Virginia is survived by her daughter Virginia Larsen, and daughter-in-law Kirsten Lindbloom of Austin, son Daniel Larsen of Roanoke, Virginia, son John and daughter-in-law Debbie Larsen of Moorpark, California, daughter-in-law Carol Larsen of Baltimore, North Dakota; two grandchildren, Maren (Dan) Townsend, and Jason (Michele) Larsen, and seven great-grandchildren, all living in the Baltimore area.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Bernard; and sons: Larry and Richard.

A memorial service will be held in Bismarck at a later date, with interment of her ashes in Lakeview Cemetery, Kenmare. The family suggests memorials to Lutheran Church of the Cross www.churchofthecross.org/  Heartview Foundation –heartview.org/ Alzheimer’s Association – www.alz.org/ Alzheimer’s Foundation of America – www.alzfdn.org/.

Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin. Condolences may be expressed online at www.worlein.com.