Dean Larson

Dean Larson, 74, of Silver City and formerly of Belle Fourche & Colony, WY passed away early on the morning of July 24th surrounded by his family at the Fort Meade Veterans Facility after a 5 month battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Betty and their four children. Deb (Dan) Bestgen, LaWayne Larson, all of Rapid City, Stuart (Mary) Larson of Lusk, WY and Sheri (Jeremy) Christiansen of Fairbury, NE. He is also survived by his sister Mary (Wayne) Wolff of Colony, WY in addition to several nieces and nephews. Papa is also survived by 8 grand children Bryce (Marie) Bestgen, of Sturgis and Sam Bestgen of Rapid City, Gavin Larson of Rapid City, Abbey, Dalton & Danni Larson of Lusk, WY and Jenna & Nick Christiansen of Fairbury, NE. He was also survived by one great-granddaughter, Brylie of Sturgis. He was preceded in death by his parents L.P. and Edna Larson, an infant brother Raymond, and infant daughter, Wanda Lee. Service will be held 10:30am Thursday July 28th, 2011 at the United Methodist Church in Belle Fourche with Rev. Gail Arnold and Rev. Martin Earl officiating. Visitation will be held 5 to 7pm Wednesday at Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Interment will be held at the Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis, with Military Honors provided by the Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard. Dean married Betty Hendrickson on March 23rd, 1956 in Rockville Maryland while on leave from the Army. He served his country in the Army from 1955 to 1958. The couple made their home for many years on a ranch in Colony, Wyoming where Dean also worked with his Dad as part of Larson & Sons, Inc. They moved into Belle Fourche in 1981 and then retired to Silver City full time in 1989. Memorials have been established to the American Cancer Society for pancreatic cancer research and to the Community Living Center at the Fort Meade VA Center to help with the Hospice Family Rooms and bird feeders for residents. DATE OF BIRTH March 2, 1937 ~ Rapid City, South Dakota DATE OF DEATH July 24, 2011 ~ Sturgis, South Dakota FUNERAL SERVICE 10:30 A.M. – Thursday – July 28, 2011 United Methodist Church Belle Fourche, South Dakota OFFICIANTS Pastor Gail Arnold – Pastor Martin Earl FAMILY TRIBUTE – Stuart Larson SPECIAL MUSIC Pianist – Faith Goehring Vocalists – Marilyn Hespe “Take My Hand Precious Lord”, “Old Rugged Cross” Paul and Lowell Larsen “The Man from Galilee” CASKET BEARERS Lindy Bartlett                                                           Jim Fettig Tally Chapman                                                       Jim Kokesh Lyman Cramer                                                       Dan Loftus INTERMENT Black Hills National Cemetery – Sturgis, SD Military Honors Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard