Raymond Keith Larsen

Memorial services for Raymond Larsen, age 78, of Milaca, MN, will be held on Monday, January 3, 2011 at 11 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Milaca with Rev. Tim Bauer officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Arr. Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home of Milaca. Raymond Keith Larsen was born January 5, 1932 in Hayland Township to Hans and Grace (Starkweather) Larsen. He grew up north of Milaca and attended school through the 8th grade. He married Carol (Hoening) on July 24th, 1959 in Milaca, MN. They made their home in Foreston, MN until 1965 and then moved to Page Township. Carol and Ray divorced in 1986. Ray worked as a construction worker for Associated Contractors, in Mpls MN until enlisting in USAF from July 1952- 1956. He was a mechanic and served at Sheppard AFB, Texas and Chanute AFB, Illinois where he earned National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. After the Air Force he worked construction for Les Luns before joining Elk River Ready-Mix in 1965. He worked there until retiring in 1982 due to health reasons. Soon after that, Ray and Carol bought “Ray’s Place” in Bock, MN where they worked together with his brother, Paul and daughter, DeeAnn until selling the cafe in 1985. Ray enjoyed spending time with many members of his large family, playing horse-shoes, shooting pool, hunting, cutting wood and ice fishing. Ray was especially known for his large vegetable gardens and enjoyed canning, making jams, jellies and pickles, cooking and baking- especially his famous bread. Friends and family looked forward to his summer fish, venison and turtle fries. Ray is survived by son, Jody (Cara Sylvester) Larsen of St. Cloud, daughter DeeAnn (Andrew Carwell) Petersen and son, Delwood (Sara) Larsen, both of Milaca; brothers, Melvin Larsen of Milaca, Gene (Annabelle) Larsen of Biloxi, Mississippi, Jim Larsen of Monument, Colorado, Gary (Jan) Larsen of Milaca, Ralph (Cheryl) Larsen of Milaca and sister, Elaine (Donald) Sanderson of Milaca; grandchildren; Brandon Larsen, Bethany Weber, Keith Larsen, Justin Petersen, Tera Petersen, Karie Petersen, John Petersen, Jr. , Brittany Paulson and Sophie Larsen; eighteen great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews. He was preceeded in death by his parents; son, Terry Larsen; brothers, Levi, Laurence, Hans Jr, Vernon, John, Donald (Dean), Marvin and Paul and sisters, Sophie Johnson, Wilma Anderson, Pearl Broberg and Karen Radke.