Gloria Ann Larson, 85

Published 10:49 am Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Gloria Ann Larson, 85, of Austin, Minnesota, died Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in Rochester, Minnesota, surrounded by her children.

Larson

Larson

Gloria Ann Johnson was born June 2, 1930, in Austin, Minnesota, to Bennie and Anna (Gunderson) Johnson. Following her 1948 graduation from Austin High School, she married Idore Larson on Oct. 3, 1948. The couple raised five children. Idore passed away in 2014, after they had enjoyed 66 years of marriage. Gloria was an active member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church. She enjoyed being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and worked as a Medical Records Manager at the Austin Clinic. Gloria was very creative, spending her leisure time making porcelain dolls, stained glass, knitting, doing hardanger, and baking many wedding cakes. She also made a lot of lefse for the church. Gloria enjoyed playing bridge, square dancing, and vacationing with the family. She was an active member of the Sons of Norway, traveling to Norway on several occasions. Gloria especially loved attending her children’s and grandchildren’s activities. Her family was at the center of her life.

Gloria is survived by her five children: Gregory (Diane) Larson of Austin, Kathy (Jeff) Orth of Rochester, Debra (Mark) Welken of Bloomington, Vicki (Jeff) Goodew of Rochester and Bradley Larson of Dundas; also her grandchildren, great-grandchildren; and two brothers: Emery Johnson and Nolan Johnson, both of Austin.

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She was preceded in death by her parents Anna and Bennie Johnson; her husband Idore Larson; two sisters; four brothers; and her grandson Joel Orth in 2014.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin with Todd Portinga, Associate in Ministry, officiating. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016, at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Memorials can be directed to the St. Olaf Lutheran Church Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Association, or recipient of donor’s choice. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.