Clair Larson, 92, died on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM Saturday, January 15, 2011 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Mark Helgeland officiating. Burial will follow at Clara Lutheran Cemetery, rural St. Hilaire, MN.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Friday, January 14, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held from 9:30 AM until 10:30 AM on Saturday at the church.

Clair C. Larson was born on July 30, 1918 in New Ulm, MN the son of Carl and Elin (Gustafson) Larson. He attended country school in Sibley County and also Red Lake County. He was baptized in the Bernadotte Lutheran Church in Sibley County and confirmed at the Clara Lutheran Church at Hazel, MN.

Clair remembers, The move from Sibley County southwest of Minneapolis to Red Lake County in northwest Minnesota required the rental of a railroad car to carry the family possessions which consisted of four horses, a 2 bottom gang plow, and a four wheeled farm wagon. Also on that car were 200 chickens and of course all of the household furnishings that were essential to start a new home. Accompanying that car on its two day journey to Plummer to care for the horses and the chickens was one of Dads brothers. I was nine years old, but I remember it well. My dad drove his brothers car for the 300 plus miles while my mother drove the family car. It was a huge move for a nine year old.

In 1929 he moved with his family to Gervais Twp. in Red Lake County and he graduated from the Pershing High School in Plummer, MN in 1936. 1938 the family moved to River Falls Twp. in Pennington County.

In July, 1941 Clair was drafted into the U.S. Army at Fort Snelling, MN. His military training was received at Camp Roberts, CA and on November 17, 1941, Clair and others shipped out from Seattle, WA to Kodiac Island south of the Alaskan mainland. The next two and a half or three years were spent on several Aleutian Islands, including Adak and Amchitka. Mr. Larson was Honorably Discharged from the service at Camp Roberts, CA in September 1946 as a Sergeant.

Clair farmed with his father in Pennington County before and after his tour of serviced and continued on the farm for some time after his fathers death. For several years he was a member of the Clara Lutheran Church and served on the church council in various positions and also on the Redeemer Lutheran Church council after becoming a member there.

For 22 years, Mr. Larson served on the Pennington County Soil and Water Board, holding various positions as well as Chairman. This was a board that he enjoyed serving on. He also served for a short time on the Pennington County Draft Board until they were disbanded.

He was also a member of the American Legion Post having served as Commander, and was also a member of the VFW. Clair tremendously enjoyed fishing in both winter and summer, especially with his favorite fishing buddies, Kyle and Lindsey, and he enjoyed hunting in his earlier years. Clair worked for a few years at Digi-Key in Thief River Falls.

Survivors include one sister, Octavia (Ellsworth) Jorgenson of Thief River Falls; nephews, Daniel Jorgenson of Minnetonka, MN and Thomas Jorgenson of Bloomington, MN; and sister-in-law, Bernice Larson of Hopkins, MN, special friends, Ken and Cindy Cedergren and their family. He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jerome and niece, Cathy Diane Larson.

Family condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com

ORGANIST: Reid Froiland
SOLOIST: Chris Cuppett & Rev. Terri Cuppett
SELECTIONS: One Day At A Time & Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: Amazing Grace & What A Friend We Have In Jesus
PALLBEARERS: Neil Peterson, Vernon Konickson, David Peterson, Stuart Peterson, William Peterson, Ken Cedergren
HONORARY PALLBEARERS: All of Clairs relatives and friends
MILITARY HONORS: American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post #117 & Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post #2793