Official Obituary of
Darrell L. Larson
April 21, 1938 ~ September 20, 2017 (age 79) 79 Years Old
Darrell Larson Obituary
Darrell L. Larson, age 79, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at a local care center. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 25, 2017, at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown. Pastor Steve Biswell will officiate. The family is requested to meet at the chapel on Monday by 1:30 p.m. for a prayer service. Visitation will take place prior to services at the chapel on Monday.
Burial will be at Lorinda Cemetery, rural Henry, SD. Pallbearers will be Karl Larson, Ethan Larson, Jessica Larson Evans and Lindsay Larson Jordahl.
Darrell was born on April 21, 1938, in Watertown, SD, to Louis and Helga (Raastad) Larson. The youngest of six children, he grew up in Henry and graduated from Henry High School in 1956.
In 1959, he married Freda Peterson.
They lived in Montana and Minnesota briefly, but ended up in Lake Norden, SD, where Darrell worked for the Lake Norden Creamery and its various iterations, driving truck to pick up milk from dairy farmers in the area until 1983.
In December of 1978, Darrell married Ritha Waldner. They moved to Washington state, where he spent several years operating tractors and combines on the steep hills of eastern Washington.
Darrell had an accident that disabled his hand in 1989, and retired after that.
He was a man of many lives and when the Washington doctors said he was not going to make it in 2005, due to a severe bout of pneumonia, he had to prove them wrong.
When Ritha passed away, he returned to Watertown, SD, where he had been residing since 2007 until this summer, when things caught up with him and he was hospitalized in Sioux Falls before getting his wish to come back to Watertown.
He enjoyed watching TV, especially the History Channel and everything from ‘Hunting Sasquatch' to ‘American Pickers' to old westerns.
He loved stock car racing. In his younger years, trips with dad to the Casino Speedway were a weekly event and more recently NASCAR and related races were his favorite entertainment.
Darrell is survived by his children: Lori Larson (Lee Sutton) of Watertown, SD, Larry (Lyudmila) Larson of Tampa, FL, and Karl (Kay) Larson of Watertown, SD; his stepchildren: Adina (Michael) Starr of Parker, CO, Dan (Lorie) Waldner of Sumner, WA, and Jennifer (Kurt) Huehl of Huron, SD; 4 grandchildren; 6 step-grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; niece and neighbor, Joyce Wilson; many other nieces and nephews; and friend and helping neighbor, Donald Piorkowski.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ritha; his parents; his four sisters: Louella Mara, Emma Reed, Dorothy Hascall and Alice Pantekoek; one brother, Leslie Larson; one nephew, Leroy Reed; and his special four-legged companion, Cuddles.
When: September 25, 2017 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
When: September 25, 2017 2:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
Burial will be at Lorinda Cemetery, rural Henry, SD. Pallbearers will be Karl Larson, Ethan Larson, Jessica Larson Evans and Lindsay Larson Jordahl.
Darrell was born on April 21, 1938, in Watertown, SD, to Louis and Helga (Raastad) Larson. The youngest of six children, he grew up in Henry and graduated from Henry High School in 1956.
In 1959, he married Freda Peterson.
They lived in Montana and Minnesota briefly, but ended up in Lake Norden, SD, where Darrell worked for the Lake Norden Creamery and its various iterations, driving truck to pick up milk from dairy farmers in the area until 1983.
In December of 1978, Darrell married Ritha Waldner. They moved to Washington state, where he spent several years operating tractors and combines on the steep hills of eastern Washington.
Darrell had an accident that disabled his hand in 1989, and retired after that.
He was a man of many lives and when the Washington doctors said he was not going to make it in 2005, due to a severe bout of pneumonia, he had to prove them wrong.
When Ritha passed away, he returned to Watertown, SD, where he had been residing since 2007 until this summer, when things caught up with him and he was hospitalized in Sioux Falls before getting his wish to come back to Watertown.
He enjoyed watching TV, especially the History Channel and everything from ‘Hunting Sasquatch' to ‘American Pickers' to old westerns.
He loved stock car racing. In his younger years, trips with dad to the Casino Speedway were a weekly event and more recently NASCAR and related races were his favorite entertainment.
Darrell is survived by his children: Lori Larson (Lee Sutton) of Watertown, SD, Larry (Lyudmila) Larson of Tampa, FL, and Karl (Kay) Larson of Watertown, SD; his stepchildren: Adina (Michael) Starr of Parker, CO, Dan (Lorie) Waldner of Sumner, WA, and Jennifer (Kurt) Huehl of Huron, SD; 4 grandchildren; 6 step-grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; niece and neighbor, Joyce Wilson; many other nieces and nephews; and friend and helping neighbor, Donald Piorkowski.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ritha; his parents; his four sisters: Louella Mara, Emma Reed, Dorothy Hascall and Alice Pantekoek; one brother, Leslie Larson; one nephew, Leroy Reed; and his special four-legged companion, Cuddles.
Service Details.
Visitation
When: September 25, 2017 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
Service
When: September 25, 2017 2:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Darrell L. Larson, please visit our floral store.
Friends and family have shared their relationship to show their support.
How do you know Darrell L. Larson?
We are sorry for your loss.
Help others honor Darrell's memory.
Email
Print
Copy
Services
Ongoing
Online Event
Online Event
In Loving Memory Of
Darrell Larson
April 21, 1938-September 20, 2017
Look inside to read what others
have shared
Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book.
Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book.
You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Darrell L. Larson
© 2024 Crawford Osthus Funeral Chapel. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS & TA | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility