Richard Larson

Richard D. (Rick) Larson was born on September 3, 1944 at the St. Joseph Hospital in Concordia, Kansas. Rick came into this world at 11 AM, just in time for church to start.

Emil W. "Bill" Larson and Marguerite I. Wilcox Larson were very happy to have a son join their family. His school years were spent at Washington Grade School and Concordia Jr/Sr High School. He was in the first 8th grade class in the new Jr. High building on the east side of the high school. During his free time through his high school years, Rick worked for his father at Larson's Super Service Gas Station at the NE corner of 6th and Cedar Streets.

After graduating from Concordia High School in 1962, he attended Brown-Mackie School of Business in Salina. During the summer after graduating, he met the love of his life, and in April 1964 he married Sharon R. Powell at the Concordia Lutheran Church.

Rick and Sharon had three children, Marcia C., Roger A., and Rebecca M. When the kids were old enough, Rick spent his evenings coaching their softball/baseball teams during the summer, and the bowling teams in the winter. In 1967, Rick and Sharon were part of a group that helped start a school for hard of hearing preschool children in Salina. Their daughter, Marcia was the first child to enroll in the school, and there were five children in the school.

Over his working years, most of Rick's time was spent in agriculture and manufacturing. The family lived in Concordia, Minneapolis, Salina, Lincoln, and Beloit. They also spent time in Shenandoah, IA and Yuma, CO before returning to Beloit.

When all the kids left home, Rick had some free time to do other things. He got curious about his ancestors, and for the last 30 years, he has been looking for data on his ancestors and helping other people find their ancestors as well.

He served in many capacities at the Zion Lutheran Church, and on the Board of Directors of the Port Library in Beloit, Optimist Club in Beloit, the Cloud County Genealogical Society, the Board of Directors of the Cloud County Community College Foundation, and the Board of Directors at the Sunset Home in Concordia. At various times, he was an officer in all those groups.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Kathi Fraser; and in-laws, Cy and Rosie Powell, Peggy Powell, and Howard and Carol Powell.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sharon of the home; children, Marcia of Springfield, MO, Roger and wife Irene of Bellefonte, PA and their children, Roger Jr., Christian, and Michael, and Rebecca Rahe and husband Todd of Hanover, KS, and their children, Jonathan, Stephanie, and Kyle; sister, Ginni Skach and husband James of Wichita; great-grandchildren, Bryson, Payslie, Zadan, and Brexan; a special grandson, Bobby Sanchez; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Thursday, January 25 at the Zion Lutheran Church, & burial services will be at 2 PM at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Concordia. Visitation will be from 2-7 PM with family present from 5-7 PM Wednesday at the Roberts Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Zion Lutheran Church.