Lillian I. Larson

Lillian I. Larson, 103 year old former resident of Little Falls, passed away Friday (Aug. 7) in Burnsville, MN. Funeral services for Lillian I. Larson will be held Monday, Aug. 10, at 11:00 AM at Grace Covenant Church in Little Falls with Rev. Joel Osterlund and Rev. Paul Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Little Falls. Friends may call Sunday from 4-8 P.M. at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls with a prayer service to be held at 8 P.M. There will also be visitation Monday from 10-11 A.M. at Grace Covenant Church. Lillian Irene Jackson Larson went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, August 7, 2009, at the age of 103. She was born November 19, 1905, to John and Jenny (Thomsen) Jackson in the family home on Northwest Second Street in Little Falls. Her parents were both immigrants who came to the United States from Kristiansund, Norway. She attended Lincoln Elementary School, Central School, and was graduated from Little Falls High School in the class of 1923. She completed the Normal Training School Class for teachers at LFHS and started her teaching career teaching eight grades at District 117 near Darling. Two years later she enrolled at St. Cloud State Teachers’ College where she earned a three-year certificate. Hired by the Minneapolis Public Schools upon graduation, Lillian taught sixth grade for ten and a half years at Garfield Elementary School. She later taught at Lindbergh Elementary in Little Falls, at District 1, and finished her teaching career in 1971 after 16 years at Royalton Elementary. Lillian was a member of the Royalton Study Club of which she was a past president, was active in PTA as a parent and officer in Little Falls and as a teacher in Royalton, and served in the Red Cross. Her passions in life were her Lord Jesus, her family, her friends, and teaching. She lived in Little Falls for ninety-three years of her life and had moved last July to assisted living at Elim Shores in Eden Prairie, MN. On June 23, 1934, Lillian married David L. Larson, a Little Falls grocer, fuel oil man, and gas station owner. They were the parents of two daughters, Karen and Rachel. Lillian and Dave celebrated their 60th anniversary before Dave went to be with the Lord on November 19, 1994, Lillian’s 89th birthday. During her formative years in Little Falls, Lillian’s family attended the First English Lutheran Church, a congregation with many members of Norwegian background. Lillian studied piano and became the church organist. When in the fourth grade, she attended a children’s revival at the Presbyterian Church. It was there that she understood that Christ had died for her sins and that she needed to accept Christ as her personal Savior. In April 1941, Lillian testified to her faith in Christ by being baptized at the First Baptist Church where she remained a member until 1968 when she joined Grace Covenant Church where she has been a member the past forty-one years. Over the years she participated and was a leader in the women’s missionary programs, taught Sunday school and daily vacation Bible school, as well as directing Sunday School programs and a junior choir. One of her special interests in retirement years was writing to the missionaries proclaiming the Gospel of Christ who were supported by Grace Covenant Church. She is survived by her daughters, Karen R. Maghan of Minnetonka, MN and Dr. Rachel C. Larson, Greenville, SC, two grandchildren Brian (Rhonda) Maghan, and Heidi Maghan, an adopted grand-daughter Jill Anderson, two great-grandchildren Lindsey Marie and Brent David Maghan, and ten Larson and four Jackson nieces and nephews and their spouses. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, eight brothers and sisters: Marie Tommeraasen, Florence Sandvik, Martin, Olaf, George, Thomas, Ronald, and Clyde Jackson, and son-in-law, Earl Maghan. Lillian’s wish was that memorials go to Grace Covenant Missions that others might come to know Christ whom she dearly loved and served.

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Lillian I. Larson

November 19, 1905 - August 7, 2009