Larry Christianson, 62, died Thursday, March 13, 2008 at St. Therese Nursing Home, New Hope, MN.

Larry Ray Christianson, age 62 of Otsego, MN, formerly of Oklee, MN, passed away Thursday, March 13, 2008 from cancer. He was born February 24,1946 in Fosston, MN to Selmer and Cecilia Christianson. Larry grew up in Oklee and graduated from Oklee Public School in 1963. He entered the U.S. Air force in1964 and was discharged in 1968. While in the military, he served at Grand Forks, AFB, ND and served in Okinawa, Japan at the same time as his Uncle Louis Dessellier. Following his military service, he returned to Minnesota and moved to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. He attended drafting school in St Paul, MN and Dunwoody College in Minneapolis, MN for woodworking. On August 26 1983, he married Alice Joy Fletcher and they made their home in Bloomington, MN until they moved to Otsego, MN in Dec. of 2003. During his life, Larry held a number of jobs such as laborer, welder, cabinet maker, tow truck driver, & snow plowing, but his passion was over the road truck driving. As a truck driver, he referred to himself as a "Professional Tourist" because he enjoyed traveling the states and seeing the country. Larry loved life and had a wonderful sense of humor. His friends and family will remember him for his laugh that was so deep you couldn't help laughing with him, for being one of the strongest willed persons anyone would ever know, and for the comfort he gave when you had a problem. He was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in Oct. of 2007. Throughout these past few months, he still kept a positive attitude on life and touched the hearts of many who cared for him as he could still find a way to make them laugh. He never once complained about what he was going through. His hobbies included visiting with people, genealogy, wood working, auto repair, computers, animals, and reading.

Larry is survived by his wife, Alice, Otsego, MN; son, Brian E. Christianson of Otsego, MN; daughter, Janet A. Garcia (Carlos Mareno) of Deer Park, TX; daughter, Patricia M. Vaccaro (Jason) of Minneapolis; son, John D. Williams (Rebecca) of Spring Lake Park, MN; son, Gerald L. Helm (Toni) of Sherdian, WY; daughter, Sheri K. Beckwith (Taylor) of Montana; 14 grandchildren: Cassandra L. Williams, Sharmain A., Luis A., and Miguel A. Garcia, all of Deer Park, TX; Dylan R. and Valentino Vaccaro of Minneapolis, MN; Damian R. Williams of Spring Lake Park, MN; Alexis R. Williams of Michigan; Dustin LaVone and Nathaniel Cline
of Spring Lake Park, MN; Dakota W. Christianson of McIntosh, MN; Ashley D. Little of Iowa; Randell L. Behr of Iowa; Cody A., Joseph T., and Deidrah M. Beckwith of Montana; 1 great grandchild Ricki Damian Ayala of Deer Park, TX. Additionally, he is survived by his parents, Selmer and Cecilia Christianson of Oklee; sister, Judy Webster (Windel) of McIntosh; sister, Loretta Heuer (Dwight) of Fargo, ND and brother, Henry A. of Thief River Falls. He is preceded in death by his son, John Allen Christianson and grandparents: Henry and Julia Christianson; Andrew and Alexina Dessellier.