Pastor A. Eugene Larson
1917 – 2005
Pastor A. Eugene Larson, 87 years, died peacefully Saturday, June 4th, at Longmont United Hospital, Longmont, Colorado. He suffered a severe fall on May 26th and was removed from life support on June 4th.

Eugene Larson was born December 23, 1917, in Gwinner, North Dakota, to Rev. J. Edor and Alma Larson. He spent his early years in North Dakota, moving to Parkers Prairie, with his family as a youth and later to Wahoo, Nebraska, where he attended Luther Academy and Junior College, graduating with an A.A. degree in 1937. He received a B.A. degree from Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas in 1939 and from there entered the Augustana Theological Seminary in Rock Island, IL (now the Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago), graduating in 1943, with an M.Div. degree. He did graduate study at the University of Chicago and continuing education at Princeton Seminary, Princeton, NJ.

His first call was a three-point parish in Granville, Utica, and Putnam, IL from 1943 – 1946. He was an assistant to the President and Teacher/Coach at Luther Academy and Luther Junior College, Wahoo, NE (now merged with Midland College, Fremont, NE) from 1946- 1949.

He married Jean Marilyn Samuelson on September 14, 1949, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, in Minneapolis.

Pastor Larson accepted a call to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cheyenne, WY where he served from 1949 – 1957. From 1957-1966 he served Augustana Lutheran Church, Portland, Oregon, and from 1966-1982, served First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Longmont, Colorado, where he took his first retirement at the age of 65. After retirement, he served the following parishes as pastor, interim pastor or visitation pastor during the years from 1982 – 1999: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Glenwood Springs, St. Philip’s Lutheran, Littleton, CO, Mt. Calvary Lutheran, Boulder CO, St. Luke Lutheran, Albuquerque NM, Trinity Lutheran, Boulder CO. During the period from 1999 – 2001, he volunteered at the OUR Center and did substitute teaching in elementary grades of the St. Vrain Valley School District. He retuned as visitation pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Boulder, from 2001- 2003 at which he took his fifth and final retirement at the young age of 85. Up until the time of his death, he was a volunteer at Longmont United Hospital in the ICU Family Waiting Area.

In Oregon he served on the Examining Committee of the Pacific Southwest Synod LCA, Camp Director, Board Member of Luther Council in Portland and the Oregon Council on Alcoholic Problems. In Colorado he served on the Executive Council of the Rocky Mountain Synod, was a camp teacher at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp, friend/counselor for juveniles in custody in Longmont CO, President and Vice Pres.. of the Longmont Ministerial Ass’n, and Advisor to the Interfaith Task Force of Longmont.

In 1986, Larson was selected from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, IL to receive the “Alumni of the Year” award because he “demonstrated the qualities which the seminary seeks to emulate in its preparation of the pastors of the church.” In late June of this year, 2005, he will be honored posthumously at the biennial “Lutherfest” at Midland College, Fremont, NE, for his contribution to Luther College as professor and to the church as pastor.

Hobbies he enjoyed were CU Womens BB team, the Broncos, Rockies and sports of all kinds (especially with his children and grandchildren), fishing, camping, gardening and baking.

Preceding him in death are his father and mother, Rev. J. Edor and Alma Larson and his brother, Dr. Carl W. Larson. He is survived by his wife, Jean Larson, two daughters Chris Larson Renquist (Rev. Tom) of Centennial, CO, Lorene Salomonsson (Lars-Erik) of Vaxjo, Sweden, and two sons, Dean Larson (Carlee) of Longmont CO and Damon Larson (Anna-Marie) of Parker CO. He is also survived by his sister, Mrs. RuthE (Obed) Lundeen and ten grandchildren, He is also survived by 4 great-grandchildren. His passion was preaching and people, and among those people for whom he had a passion were all those in need here and globally. His request was that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ELCA World Hunger Appeal or to the OUR Center and can be sent to Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, 326 Terry Street Longmont, CO 80501.

A memorial service was held Thursday, June 16th at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Longmont, Colorado, with Rev. Steve Berke officiating. Private inurnment will be at Ryssby Cemetery.