Thelma Eileen (Larsen) Larson passed away on Thursday, November 12, 2020, at Home of the Flint Hills Memory Care in St. George, Kansas.
Thelma was born on October 15, 1928, on a farm near Munden, Kansas, the daughter of Ejner and Edna Larsen. She attended Pleasant Grove School, north of Scandia, Kansas, and the Norway Grade School in Norway, Kansas. She graduated from Belleville High School, Belleville, Kansas, with the class of 1946. She married Don Larson on April 13, 1947, and together they raised three children on a farm south of Scandia. Her childhood and early married life were spent on farms, helping her dad and then her husband, often providing field lunches to the farm crew. They later moved to Scandia.
She was a homemaker first and foremost, but also was a bookkeeper for their business, Johnson and Larson Grain and Feed Company in Scandia for 25 years, and later was a teller for First National Bank in Belleville.
Thelma cherished her family and friends. She loved to entertain, whether it was an impromptu coffee, large family gatherings, bridge with her friends, or after ball game get togethers. Following her children and grandchildren as they participated in various activities was a highlight of her life. She was also an avid K-State fan, especially K-State football and tailgating.
As a member of Amana Lutheran Church in Scandia, she was involved in leadership roles, ladies' groups and helping with church functions. She was community minded, serving on city council and was involved in many community activities and projects.
Thelma’s Scandinavian heritage was very important to her, being the daughter of a Danish immigrant. She worked tirelessly to preserve the history of Scandinavian immigrants through her work at the Scandia Museum.
She is survived by her three children: Sonia (Richard) Raney of Wamego, Kan., Kent (Kim) Larson of Scandia, and Thayne (Jeanne) Larson of Belleville; grandchildren: Robb (Traci) Raney of Overland Park, Kan., Bryce (Olja) Raney of Tahoe City, Calif., Tara (Jeff) Hake of Wamego, Kan., Shea (Kyle) Kohman, Anchorage, Alaska, Brooke Larson, Kansas City, Mo., Kiley Larson, Kansas City, Mo., Landon Larson, Houston, Texas, and Chase Larson, Belleville, Kan.; and 11 great -grandchildren: Brynn and Audrey Raney, Hadley and Parker Hake, Brecken Kohman, Xavier and Camille Newton, Tess, Wynn, Sadie and Fern Larson; niece: Joan (Allen) MacKnight, Signal Hill, Calif.; nephew: Brian (Theresa) Larsen, Victor, Mont.; special cousins: Bob and Sharon Larsen and Anita Cline of Belleville.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ejner and Edna Larsen, husband Don Larson, brother Glenn and sister-in-law Majorie Larsen, infant sister Lucille, granddaughter-in-law Celine Larson, and nephew James Larsen.
Due to concerns of the coronavirus, a private family service will be held on Friday, November 20. There will be a public visitation at the Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home in Scandia on Thursday, November 19, from 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. The graveside services will be livestreamed via Bachelor-Faulkner-Dart-Surber Funeral Homes Facebook page.
Memorials have been established for the Scandia Museum, Amana Lutheran Church, Scandia, and the Republic County Hospital, Belleville. Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.bachelor-surber.com.
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Scandia, Kansas, is in charge of the arrangements.
