Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271561
Title: Katherine "Kay" L. Larsen
Date: 3/4/1925-4/19/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 3/4/1925
Summary: Katherine Louise Clark Larsen, 100, passed away peacefully April 19, 2025, at the Good Shepherd Home, in Watford City, ND. Funeral services were held April 28, 2025, at the First Lutheran Church in Watford City, with Minister Matthew Rolfson officiating. She was laid to rest at Schafer Cemetery in Watford City. Katherine “Kay” Clark was born on March 4, 1925, to Jasper Bennett and Easter Clark in Ashburn, GA. The daughter of a cotton and peanut farmer, Kay was affectionately known as “Nolie” as she grew up. She had many chores growing up in the South, and talked about how electricity and running water were great luxuries! She graduated from high school at 16 and went to business school in Atlanta. Working as a secretary, she met John O. Larsen when he was stationed at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. They were married September 1, 1946, in Isabella, GA, moving to Fargo, ND, while John finished pharmacy school, then Mandan, Hope, (where John owned his first drugstore), and finally Watford City, ND, where they opened Larsen Service Drug in 1952, living there the remainder of their lives. Kay was a homemaker, giving her time to many places such as Watford City School PTA, First Lutheran Church where she was a longtime member, Sons of Norway, Campfire Girls and more. In later years, she became a member of DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). She was an avid gardener and was happiest when she was watering and caring for her many types of beautiful flowers. Kay enjoyed being a grandmother and great-grandmother. Her special southern fried chicken and cornbread were family favorites, along with her chocolate chip cookies made with extra love and “orange zest.” Kay entered the Good Shepherd Home Assisted Living Center in July 2016, and the Good Shepherd Nursing Home in January 2018. She thought she was living in the best place in the world and thoroughly enjoyed her years there. She particularly enjoyed playing bingo and was known by the staff as their “Georgia Peach.” While she missed Georgia, Kay thoroughly embraced living in western North Dakota where she found the people very friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand. She and John enjoyed many lifelong friendships with neighbors, colleagues, and fellow community members. Kay is survived by her daughter, Laurice “Laurie” Leek, of Aurora, CO; son, Larry (Debbie) Larsen, of Watford City; daughter, Lisa (Tim) Gerlach, of International Falls, MN; six grandchildren, Drew (Rachel) Leek, Colin (Katlin) Leek, Michelle (Jayme) Carson, Jenna (Sheldon) Wahlstrom, Chris (Alissa) Larsen, and Sean (Lizzy) Larsen; ten great-grandchildren, Naomi Leek, Olivia and Avery Leek, Zoe, Esme and Leia Carson, Kai and Tucker Larsen, and Axel and Levi Wahlstrom; and her brother, Robert (Glenda) Clark, of Sylvester, GA. She was preceded in death by her husband, John O. Larsen; son, Lyle Larsen; parents, Jasper Bennett and Easter Fields Clark; brother, Cosby Clark; and in-laws, Olaf and Laura Larsen.
Red ID: FND_I_79057 Image ID: 525293 Image Notes: FND001 271561

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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