Duane Larson

Duane H. Larson, age 86, of Willmar, formerly of the Lake Lillian area, died Tuesday morning, October 19, at the Rice Care Center in Willmar.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:30 P.M., Friday, October 22, at the Church of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Lake Lillian. Interment will be in the Lake Lillian Community Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Austin F. Hanscom American Legion Post #167 of Willmar. Friends may call from 4 to 7 P.M. at the Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home in Atwater and at the church 1 hour prior to the services.
Duane Hartford Larson was born to Walter and Agnes Larson on November 10, 1923. He grew up on his family farm 9 miles south of Atwater, MN. Upon completing the eighth grade, Duane continued to help his father farm. After a short period of being an insurance salesman, Duane joined the Army in January, 1949 and served as a Personal Administrative Technician. He continued to serve until August of 1952 as Sergeant First Class. Duane married Catherine E. Keigan on June 7, 1950 at St. Phillips Catholic Church in Litchfield, Minnesota. They made their home on his farm near Lake Lillian. Together they raised 8 children. Duane was actively engaged in dairy farming for most of his life. At 42 he was elected President of the Kandiyohi County National Farmers Organization after serving for 4 years in county, state and national NFO activities. He served as National Staff Organizer for 3 years, including zone and county dairy bargaining chairman and county delegate to 3 national conventions. After retiring from dairy farming, Duane worked for Norlings Silo Company in Olivia, Minnesota and Hanson Silo Company in Lake Lillian, Minnesota, where he retired in 1993. Duane lost his wife Catherine after 39 years of marriage in 1989. He then spent his winters in Arizona and his summers back at his Atwater farm.
He is survived by four sons: David Larson of Hutchinson, Richard (and Deb) Larson of Litchfield, Michael Larson of El Mirage, Arizona, and Douglas (and Jovelyn) Larson of Maple Grove; and four daughters: Kathleen (and Chuck) Worms of St. Paul, Nancy (and Monty) Itzen of Wheaton, Donna (and Tim) Elton of Atwater and Shannon (and Greg) Arndt of Cosmos. Also surviving are 17 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother: Eugene (and Betty) Larson of Lake Lillian; and a sister: Byrnice (and Donald) Peterson of Atwater, besides other relatives and friends.
Duane was preceded in death by his parents; his wife: Catherine in 1989; and an infant granddaughter: Sidney Arndt