Helen Larson

Helen Larson, 86, Jamestown, North Dakota died Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at Hi-Acres Manor Nursing Home, Jamestown.

Helen Bernice Bjork was born March 23, 1918 in rural Lansford, ND the youngest of nine children of Andrew and Hilda (Nelson) Bjork. She attended Blaine Consolidated schools and graduated from Blaine High School in 1936. She received a two year standard teaching certificate from Minot Normal School in 1938 and taught for three years at Renville Corner near Mohall, ND. She married Philip M. Larson on August 10, 1941 at her parent's home near Lansford, ND where they farmed until Philip's death in 1965. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lansford, where she was active in Ladies Aid and taught Sunday School for many years.

In 1968 she graduated with an elementary education degree from Minot State College in Minot, ND. She taught third grade at Minnie H. and Prairie View elementary schools in Devils Lake, ND from 1968-1979. After her retirement she spent her winters in Apache Junction, AZ and her summers traveling and visiting her children, family and friends. She moved to Jamestown in 1999 and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and an associate member of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Apache Juntion, AZ. Last summer she walked in the Jamestown Relay for Life cancer walk as a 25 year breast cancer survivor. She traveled extensively throughout the United States, Alaska, Norway, Europe and the Caribbean. She enjoyed playing cards, baking cookies, working crossword puzzles, and doing macrame, crewel stitch and cross stitch pictures. She loved spending time with her children, six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, relatives and friends.

Helen is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Doug Benson, Jamestown; her son, Maynard Larson of Auburn, WA and her son and daughter-in-law, Gene and Barbara Larson of Bartlesville, OK, her grandchildren, Darren and Loralyn Benson, Fargo, ND; Jason and Julie Benson, West Fargo, ND; Kim and Damon Janssen, Fargo, ND; Tara and Craig Mahoney, Maple Valley, WA; Toby and Tina Larson, San Francisco, CA and Philip Larson, Bartlesville, OK and eight great-grandchildren, Justin, Erik, Anna and Maggie Benson, Alex Janssen, Seth and Nicholas Benson and Reilly Mahoney, her sisters-in-law, Elida Lang, Portland, OR and Edith Larson, Minot, ND.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, five sisters, Eliza, Irene, Esther, Edna and Gertrude and three brothers, Arthur, Peter and Andrew, Jr., a daughter-in-law, Barbara Larson and a great-granddaughter, Laura Mahoney.

Funeral Service: 1:30 PM, Sunday, March 28, 2004 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Jamestown with Rev. David Eppelsheimer officiating.

Visitation: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Friday, March 26, 2004 and 9:00 to 7:00 PM, Saturday, March 27, 2004 at the Eddy Funeral Home.

Prayer Service: 4:30 PM, Saturday, March 27, 2004 at the Eddy Funeral Chapel.

Burial: Lansford Cemetery, Lansford, North Dakota at a later date.