Milo S. Larson 86, of International Falls, Minnesota, died on February 7, 2023, at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth MN.
Milo Stanton Larson was born on May 1, 1936, in Falun Township near Roseau, MN.
After graduating from Roseau High School in 1954, Milo enlisted in U.S. Air Force, serving from March 1955 to March 1963, when he was honorably discharged.
Milo was an Air Force reservist from March 1959 to March 1963. He was a Flight Engineer and was licensed to taxi aircraft. His training was done at Lakeland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. Part of his enlistment took him to Johnson Air Force Base, Sayama, Japan from 1956 to 1958. His unit left from San Francisco harbor aboard the USS Breckenridge November 28, 1955 crossing the 180th Meridian on December 10th 1955. They arrived in Japan just before Christmas 1955. He always talked about how much he enjoyed his time in Japan.
After returning to the states from Japan, he served out his enlistment at Homestead Air Force Base, Homestead, FL. He also liked serving here.
Once he was discharged, he went back to the Roseau area for a short time and then decided to follow his brother Orville, sister Lyla and brother-inlaw, Byron to International Falls to find work.
On November 19, 1960, Milo was united in marriage to Kay Olson. They made their home in South International Falls. He was hired on at Mando/Boise Cascade. He worked first in the Wood Room followed by time in the Beater Room, the Pulp Mill, finally settling into Power/ Recovery. He retired in May of 1998, after 39 years. His grandkids all very young when he retired, never remember grandpa working. He always had time for them.
Milo joined the South Falls Volunteer Fire Department and proudly helped fight fires in the surrounding area for approximately 13 years at which time South International Falls and International Falls became one town.
Milo and Kay purchased land in the spring of 1986 on the Big Fork River. Here along with Ken and June Henrikson they built the “Shack”. This beautiful place was called Oak Portage, named after the Oak Portage Lutheran Church, that had been there before. He loved spending time there with family and friends. Milo enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, traveling, telling stories, coffee time with friends, driving Sunday School bus for the church, and taking kids to Bluewater for camp. He also loved spending time with nieces, nephews, family and friends, and of course, his six grandchildren.
It was Milo’s tradition at Christmas time to have people join him for a cup of Christmas cheer while listening to a stack of records playing with a toasty fire going.
Milo was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Edith (Mattson) Larson; his in-laws, Earl and Margaret Olson; his son, Mitchell Lee Larson; twin grandsons, Benjamin Lee and Nathan Isaiah Peterson; sisters, Fern (Wendell) Hamerl, Norma (Dean) Thompson, Lyla (Byron) Johnson; brothers, Donald Larson, Dan Larson, Eugene (Adeline) Larson, Lester (Marion) Larson, Orville (Leona) Larson; brothers-inlaw Alvin Grothe, Lowell Westeen, and Ken Henrikson; sister-in-law, Arola (Lester) Larson.
Milo is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Kay Larson; son, Lynn (Pat) Larson; daughters, Valerie (Allen) Peterson and Katie (Randy) Matheson; grandchildren, Thomas and Luke Matheson, Andy and Molly Larson, Seth (fiancée Hope Moss) and Will Peterson; sisters, Loretta Grothe and Linda Westeen; sisters-in-law, Kay Wallander, June Henrikson, and Pamela (Dennis) Jenson; Brother-in-law, Earl (Bev) Olson Jr.; along with many beloved extended family and wonderful cherished friends.
Funeral services will be held February 13, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Evangelical Covenant Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be held later in the spring at Forest Hill Cemetery in International Falls.
Memorials are suggested to Evangelical Covenant Church, Bluewater Covenant Bible Camp, or Christian Radio Station Psalm 99.5.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary, Inc.
