Albert (Cliff) Larson, age 86, died peacefully Saturday, June 18, 2011, at the Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine, MN.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, June 24, 2011 at Zion Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, MN. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral at church on Friday.

Known as Cliff by most, Bapa and Superman by his grandchildren, he lived a life filled with love for the Lord and for everyone he met. He counted each day as a blessing and always had a kind word for each and every person that crossed his path.

Albert Cliff Larson was born to Albert and Edith (Erickson) Larson on February 5, 1925 in Hibbing, MN. Cliff and his family began farming in Hazel, MN, and he spent the majority of his teenage years helping to run a Cities Service gas station that his father purchased in Karlstad, MN, while also attending high school across the street. The town of Karlstad was very dear to Cliffs heart and it remained in a place of pride for his entire life.

Life in the 1930s was difficult in many ways and while Cliff contracted many childhood diseases like measles, chicken pox and whooping cough, these hurdles seemed minor in retrospect to the heart issues that he would endure and overcome in his later years. Cliff visited the Mayo Clinic for 41 straight years and powered through countless heart-related surgeries. Through it all, he remained unwavering in his faith and love for the Lord.

Cliff married Carmen Green on February 24, 1952 in Thief River Falls, MN. It was here that they raised their family in the same house for over 50 years, bringing up their sons, Mark and John, in the Christian life and faith at Zion Lutheran Church. He strongly believed in service and enjoyed his involvement on the Board of Deacons and many other church committees.

Cliff served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War 2 in Germany, France, the Philippines and Japan until 1946. He began working for the Minnesota Highway Department in 1950 and held various positions: Engineering Aide, Civil Engineer, Project Engineer and Resident Engineer. He retired in 1985 after over 34 years of dedicated service on every state highway in the seven county area of northwestern Minnesota.

Cliff was heavily engaged in volunteer and service opportunities. He was active in the Kiwanis Club, local Heritage Center, RSVP, Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, the County Fair Board and the local school district, where he loved mentoring 5th grade mathematics students. He was selected as one of Minnesotas Outstanding Senior Citizens in 1997.

Cliff shared over 59 happy years with the love of his life, Carm , attending church suppers, rummage sales, going on road trips, visiting family and enjoying rides in the car together. They loved attending Billy Graham events and living out their Christian faith in their daily lives. Cliff held his family close to his heart, especially his beloved sons. With passion, he attended every church, school, sporting and backyard event in which his sons participated. He celebrated and cherished every one of his familys accomplishments with extreme love and pride.

He was a man of God; a devoted, loving and passionate son, husband, father, Bapa, neighbor and friend to all. His life will be celebrated for the joy and love he brought to ours.

Cliff is survived by his wife of 59 years, his dear Carmen; his two sons: Mark (Shari) Larson, Thief River Falls, MN; John (Sharon) Larson, Moorhead, MN; 6 grandchildren: Carissa Larson (Charles Conduah), Benjamin Larson (Holly Peterson), Rebecca Larson (Dustin Isaak), Andrew Larson, Petra (Grant) Vanderford and Zackery Larson.

Cliff was preceded in death by his parents; 1 brother, Lester Larson, 1 sister, Beverly Hamre, both of Thief River Falls, MN.; mother-in-law, father-in-law and many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, all of which he was close to and loved very much.