John W. "Jose" Larson

John W. “Jose” Larson Jr. died Sunday, August 16, 2009, at Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes, MN, of bone cancer. He had been fighting the disease for several months. He was 83. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Friday, August 21, at Emmanuel Nursing Home Chapel in Detroit Lakes, MN, with Chaplain Vicki Marthaler officiating. Memorial services will also be held at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, at 1:00 pm Saturday, August 22, with his son, Greg Larson presiding. Jose was born Feb. 23, 1926 in Bismarck, ND to John W. Larson Sr. and Theodosia Teddy to her friends, Dode to her Grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and great grandchildren Fitch Larson. He was raised and educated in Bismarck where he was an outstanding student, musician and athlete. Mr. Larson graduated in 1944. Immediately upon his graduation he enlisted in the United States Army and was subsequently given an honorable discharge from the U. S. Army Air Corps. as world war two was ending. He returned home to join the family business with his father and grandfather the John Larson Company, a well known and respected construction company, until he retired and closed the firm. The John Larson Company enjoys a long list of memorable buildings in Bismarck/Mandan and the surrounding area. Just a few of these are the State Department of Transportation Building, the North Dakota State Water Building, several buildings on the Bismarck State College campus, many of the buildings and additions on the St. Alexius Medical Center campus, and many churches, schools, hospitals and commercial buildings around the state. In addition, the John Larson Company was very involved in the construction of the coal fired generation plants, coal gasification plants and water treatment plants. They assembled what was at the time the largest drag line in the world. One of the buildings he was most proud of is the North Dakota State Historical Center. Jose was also involved in many industry organizations and other businesses in North Dakota, serving as state president of the Association of General Contractors. He was a lifetime Rotarian and was drum major of the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps. for many years. Jose was blessed to enjoy the love of two remarkable women in his life. First, when he returned home from the Army, he married his high school sweet heart, Nancy Tavis Larson and they made their home in Bismarck. They raised their family there and had many friends, and made many contributions to the community. Following Nancy’s death, Jose married Liz Hagart, Kissling Larson on August 13, 1992. They shared homes in Detroit Lakes Minnesota and Green Valley, Arizona. They also shared many friends and their families. Jose was preceded in his death by his parents and his first wife, Nancy. He is survived by Liz, her children John Kissling and Ann and Ron Watson and their children David, Tracy and Mikie. In addition he is survived by his children with Nancy, John A. Jay and Peggy Larson, Greg and Diane Larson and Keith and Marlene Larson; his grand children, Scott and Colleen Larson, John Larson, Becky and Nat-Paul Strutz, Jo and Tripp Vroman, and Michael Larson; and his great grand children, Benjamin Larson, Joseph Larson, Alex Delzer, Ella Strutz, KayLynn Vroman and Jimmy Vroman. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the North Dakota Historical Society Foundation.

John W. "Jose" Larson

February 23, 1926 - August 16, 2009