Clarice M. Larson

Clarice M. Larson, beloved mother and grandmother, 91, of La Crosse and formerly of Chaseburg, passed away peacefully Saturday July 16, 2016 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. She was born June 24, 1925 in West Union, Iowa to Harold and Agnes Hammersland. She graduated from Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa and taught 1st Grade in Claremont, Iowa. On June 16, 1946, she married Harold J. Larson and they farmed near French Creek, Middle Ridge and Chaseburg, Wisconsin where they spent the remainder of their married life. They were married 45 years until Harold's death in 1991. Together they raised 8 children. Clarice was very active in her church, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir and taking part in Circle, Ladies Aid and other women's groups. She was an avid gardener and especially loved spending time in her flower gardens. Clarice was a test gardener for Jackson & Perkins, raising many varieties of roses, and was featured in an article in the La Crosse Tribune. She remained active in volunteer work throughout her life, including quilting at the church for many years. After she moved to assisted living, she made hundreds of bead bracelets for children in Africa and pillow cases for girls in Haiti.

Survivors include her 8 children; Arlen (Jodi) Larson of Wilcox, AZ, David (Kathy) Larson of Rochester, MN, Darrell (Dianne) Larson of Silver City, NM, Elaine (David) Olson of La Crosse, Dennis (Nadine) Larson of Elgin, MN, Duane (Diane) Larson of Mantorville, MN, Arvid Larson (Diana Hobson) of La Crosse, and Lois Larson of Lake Barrington, IL; 12 grandchildren, April Hann, Michelle Spalding, Nicole Larson, Jeff Larson, Heather Luepke, Donald Larson, Dawn Larson, Jessica Olson, Robert Olson, Jennifer Koop, Jill Priggen and Kelly Larson; 16 great grandchildren; 2 sisters Norma Springer and Marie Reyner, a sister-in-law Gladys Hammersland and a brother-in-law Frank Reyner.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her grandsons Philip, Matthew and Tyler Larson; sisters Ada Boyce, Alice Hansen and Sylvia Belschner; a brother Harold (Hanford) Hammersland and brothers-in-law Arden Boyce, Pastor Erling Hansen, Delbert Belschner and Kenneth Springer.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday July 21, 2016 at the Stoddard United Methodist Church. Rev. Banze Kyabuntu will officiate with burial in the Middle Coon Valley Lutheran Cemetery. A visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley and at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until service time.