David C. Larson

DAVID CARL LARSON was born on August 16, 1956, to Leslie and Helen (Christenson) Larson in Appleton, Minnesota. He was baptized on September 30, 1956, and confirmed on May 12, 1971, at Zion Lutheran Church in Appleton. Dave was raised on the farm northeast of Holloway, Minnesota. He attended school in nearby Appleton where he graduated with the class of 1974, and received the American FFA degree. He furthered his education at Alexandria Technical College in Alexandria, Minnesota, where he completed his Associate’s degree. Dave returned home and worked on the family farm. On a church trip to Holden Village, Dave met his future wife, Beth Pederson. The couple was married on September 26, 1981, at Zion Lutheran Church in Appleton. They lived in Brookings where they attended South Dakota State University. Dave earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education and then completed his Master’s degree in Economics. In 1985, they moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, where he worked as a Farm and Ranch Business Instructor at the vocational technical school. They moved with their family to Pipestone, Minnesota, in 1987. Dave taught farm management at Southwest Technical College for nearly 18 years. He then took a position installing dairy equipment at Gorter’s Clay and Dairy Equipment. During this time, he also started Larson Information Systems where he turned his passion for helping farmers into a business. In 2007, he began working for the USDA Farm Service Agency as a Program Technician. On March 25, 2017, Dave died unexpectedly at his home at the age of 60 years, seven months and nine days.

Dave was a member of First Lutheran Church in Pipestone where he frequently volunteered to help with the sound system. Staying active at church and living out his faith in daily life were priorities for him. He was unselfish, humble, a good listener and always thinking. He knew the importance of volunteering in his community. He was a former member of the Pipestone Hiawatha Club. He volunteered for many years with the Pipestone Boy Scouts and served as Scout Master—proud to have his three sons attain the rank of Eagle Scout. Agriculture was another of Dave’s passions; his childhood on the farm and love for the land stuck with him throughout life. He chose a career that helped him stay involved with farming. Family was of upmost importance. Dave loved traveling with Beth and the kids, hunting, fishing, making candy, and pulling the kids behind the boat.

Dave is lovingly remembered by his wife, Beth; children, Michael Larson of Olympia, WA, Andrew Larson of New Ulm, MN, Emily (Alex) Lorenz of Bemidji, MN, and Daniel Larson of Pipestone; granddaughter, Finley Lorenz; and siblings, Paul (Ardis) Larson of Montevideo, MN, and Julie (Ron) Johnson of Evansville, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie and Helen (Christenson) Larson.