Naomi Larson

Naomi Larson, 96, of Republic, Missouri, formerly of Crystal Lake passed away Monday, April 25, 2011 at Sonshine Manor in Republic, Missouri.

Funeral services for Naomi Larson will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Crystal Lake with Rev. Jerald Swanberg officiating.  Burial will be at Crystal Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 29, 2011 from 5:00 until 7:00 and continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. 

Naomi Larson was born September 10, 1914 to Laurice and Cora (Ozmun) Larson at their rural Upper Flat home in Hancock County.  Naomi was baptized and attended Church and Sunday school at Upper Flat Evangelical Free Church in rural Hancock County.  She attended country school through the eighth grade and then attended Crystal Lake High School where she graduated in the spring of 1932.

Naomi was united in marriage to Richard E. Larson on February 16, 1936 at the Upper Flat Home of the Bride.  They started their life farming on a farm west of Crystal Lake and in 1941 moved to another farm north of Crystal Lake, which they purchased in 1943.  They lived here until 1984.  They then moved into their new home in Crystal Lake where they resided until Richards’s death in 1998.  The couple enjoyed 61 years of marriage and was very seldom apart.  They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with a party at the Crystal Lake Methodist Church in 1986 leaving them with many wonderful memories.  They delivered Winnebago Motor homes for 15 years going all over the U.S. including Alaska.  They also spent many winters in Texas in their motor home.  One winter they traveled to Yellowstone National Park with several other couples where they enjoyed snowmobiling through the park.  They enjoyed snowmobiling, square dancing, traveling, gardening and crafts but most of all they enjoyed spending time with their family and helping out whenever they could.

Naomi was a member of the Crystal Lake United Methodist Church as well as the UMW.  She enjoyed the Crystal Lake Senior Citizens Center and their many activities over the years.  The most memorable being their “Kitchen Band” of which she was a member.  They played for many different organizations and were in many parades.   Naomi moved to Forest City in the spring of 1998 after her husband, Richard’s death.  She was a member of the Leland Senior Citizens and the Kum Along Club in Forest City.  She continued to attend church both at Forest City & Crystal Lake United Methodist church where she was honored as a 50 year member.  In the winter of 2001 Naomi’s health declined and as a result she decided to move to Missouri that summer to the Ozarks Methodist Manor retirement community.  She thoroughly enjoyed life at the assisted living community.  She made many new friends and attended all the social events possible.  But after suffering heart problems in 2004 and a fall that broke her hip in 2005, Naomi moved to the Sonshine Manor in Republic, Missouri where she resided until her death.

Naomi is survived by one daughter, Judy Gjerde and her husband Ron of Billings, Missouri; one son Gary Larson and his wife Charlotte of Algona, Iowa; one daughter-in-law, Diane Larson of Owatonna, Minnesota; five grandchildren: Lisa (Ted) Emmons, Rick (Tori) Larson, Dan Larson, Lori (Richard) Ford, Matt (Nancy) Gjerde; eleven great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; one great-great grandson; one sister-in-law; numerous nieces, nephews; other families and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Richard; one son, Dennis Larson; one grandson, Ryan Larson; one granddaughter, Dawn Marie Larson; one brother Morton Larson and four sisters: Gladys Nelson, Carrie Shumann, Vesta Hunsley and Maude Larson in infancy.