James “Jim” Larson, 73, of Mitchell, South Dakota, died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018, at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell.

James Darryl Larson was born on Aug. 12, 1945, in Minneapolis Minnesota, to Donald and Ellen (Mayland) Larson. Jim graduated from Austin High School in 1963 and from Austin Vocational Technical School with a degree in electronics in 1971. On Sept. 22, 1966, he married Marlene Aanonson at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and received the Purple Heart for wounds received in action while in the Republic of Vietnam. Jim worked for the railroad in Austin, Minnesota, and Mitchell prior to becoming a mail carrier for the U.S. Post Office in Mitchell. He was an avid sports fan and thoroughly enjoyed attending his children and grandchildren’s sporting events. Jim enjoyed being surrounded with family and could be heard saying, “This is the life.” He also enjoyed traveling to Branson, Missouri, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Austin with family. He attended Resurrection Lutheran Church and was a member of DWU Team Makers and the VFW.

He is survived by his daughter, Jamie (Chris) Fox and their children, Addison and Brayson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; three sons, Jeffrey (Lisa) Larson and their children, Tate, Koby and Jace, Scott (Karin) Larson and their family, Halle, Avery and Macon and Chad Larson, all of Mitchell; two sisters, Susan Kuchera and Sandy (Roger) Baker, all of Austin; and a special friend, Mary Lou Tollefson of Mitchell.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marlene; and brother-in-law, Art Kuchera.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Mitchell. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, at the Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell.