Robert Larson
Robert “Bob” LeRoy Larson, 82, of Wilton, Minn., died Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center.
Bob was born Feb. 8, 1937, in Watford City, N.D., the son of Lloyd and Orel (Fredrick) Larson. He was raised and educated there and graduated from Watford City High School in 1955. He graduated from Jamestown College in 1959 with a degree in Education.
He married Roberta Lorene Dailey on Aug. 21, 1959, in Jamestown, N.D.
He was a teacher and coach at West Fargo High School from 1963 to 1972, where he was awarded the North Dakota State Biology Teacher of the Year.
They lived in Shevlin, Minn., from 1973 to 1993. He started work as a Uniserv Director for the Minnesota Education Association. He then served on the Bemidji Regional Interdistrict Counsel and was the director of the Northwest Service Cooperative. Bob had a gift for negotiating contracts and making sure all sides were fairly represented.
He also worked for the Clearwater County Sheriffs Office. He owned and operated the Headwaters Inn at the entrance of Itasca State Park for 13 years, cooking over 35,000 pounds of ribs. All through these activities, he was a farmer.
They lived in Wilton from 1993 until the present. He was on the Bear Creek Township board and was a school board member of Bagley School District #162 for many years. He was a lifetime member of the Jaycees. He also received the Headwaters Heritage Award.
He had many hobbies which included restoring Oliver tractors, and had the ability to create and fabricate anything out of metal to make his machinery run smoother.
He was unconditional in serving other people’s needs. Bob was a good family man that was dedicated to his wife and family. He was a man of great compassion with many talents that touched the lives of every person that came in contact with him. Bob will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Roberta Larson, of Wilton; sons, Tom Larson, of Willard, Minn., John (Shirlyn) Larson, of McAllen, Texas, Robert (Carol) Larson, of Red Lake Falls, Minn., Richard (Kimberly) Larson, of Wilton; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother, Ricky D. Larson, of Palm Springs, Calif.; cousin, Wayne Grimstad, of Bismarck, N.D.; and brother-in-law, John Dailey.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial services were held on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, at Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji, Minn.
Condolences may be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.