Milton Larson

Funeral Service for Milton Larson, age 88, of Wheaton, Minnesota will be held Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton with Rev. Darrell Boe officiating. Organist will be Nancy Krenz. Pallbearers will be Milton's grandchildren. Honorary Pallbearers will be Kenny Bjronson, LeAnn Bjornson, Kevin O'Leary, Rob Niss and Jerry Schultz. Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Visitation will be held Friday, September 20th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Ranney-Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton, with a 7:00 p.m. Masonic Service and a Service of Rememberance. Milton was born January 7, 1925 to Elmer and Julia (Anderson) Larson, Milton lived the majority of his life in Traverse County, Minnesota. A 1943 graduate of Wheaton High School, Milton began his career at Larson Implement Co. for one year prior to serving in the US Army for two years during World War II. On June 4, 1948 Milton married Opal Wheeler of Tintah, MN. They raised five children and lived in Wheaton their entire marriage. Upon discharge from service to his country, Milton returned to Larson Implement and in 1950 bought an interest in the business. In 1978, Milton became the sole owner of Larsons Inc., the John Deere farm equipment dealership which has served the Traverse County community for many decades. Milton's civic involvements were significant to the city of Wheaton and Traverse County over a span of more than 50 years. He served on the Wheaton Fire Department for 25 years, two years as Fire Chief. From 1958-1963 he served as a Wheaton City Councilman and was mayor of Wheaton from 1964-1969. Milton also served as Traverse County Commissioner from 1989 to 1997. Additionally he served on the Board of Directors for the First Bank Wheaton and Community First National Bank of Wheaton for a total of 18 years. He served on the Wheaton Community Hospital Board for eight years and was president of the board for six of those years. Other civic involvement included memberships in the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Masonic Lodge, Zuhrah Shrine, The Gateway Shrine Club, The First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton, The Wheaton Country Club and Disabled American Veterans. Milton liked deer hunting, fishing, golfing and playing cards and cribbage. He enjoyed traveling and was always striking up a conversation with people he met. In his later years he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Milton is survived by his wife Opal, his five children: Irene Larson of Minneapolis, MN, Lynn Larson (Bill Jarrells) of Ramsey, MN, Mark (Karen) Larson of Edina, MN, Douglas (Lesly) Larson of Minnetonka, MN and Brian (Kimberley) Larson of Orlando, FL and his ten grandchildren: Chris (Kristin) Stapleton, Molly Stapleton, Julia Larson, Claire Larson, Grace Larson, Curtis Larson, Thomas Larson, Suzanne (Adam) Frisch, Andrew Larson, Victoria Larson and two great grandsons, Austin Stapleton and Logan Frisch. He is further survived by three sisters: Ethelyn Johnson of Wheaton, Esther Odland of Sisseton, SD, Muriel (Pete) A'Bell of San Diego, CA; one brother Ole Larson of Utah; two sisters-in-law: Jeanne Wheeler of Decorah, IA; Marian Larson of FL; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Julia Larson, his brother Leonard, parents-in-law Alice and Harley Wheeler, and brothers-and sisters in-law Rodney Johnson, Manley Odland, Sharon Larson, Norman Wheeler and Tom and Marjorie Broesder. Memorials preferred.