Virginia Rose Larson

Virginia Rose (Meisner) Larson died peacefully on January 20, 2016 in Bozeman, Montana. Virginia was born September 16, 1928 to Oscar and Florence (Noel) Meisner on a farm near Elkader, Iowa. She was baptized at Peace Evangelical Church in Elkader. She attended rural elementary school near her home and graduated from Elkader High School in 1946. She attended Central State College in Edmund, Oklahoma and later received her teaching certificate from Upper Iowa University. She then utilized her training to teach in a one-room school house outside of Elkader.



On April 25, 1948 she married Norris Norman Larson. They lived on a farm near Norris's parents’ farm through 1956. In January 1957 they moved to Cresco, Iowa where they started a Surge Dairy Equipment business that thrived and grew for the next 28 years.



Virginia ran the store, kept the books and managed to keep Norris and the business operating smoothly, all while juggling to keep the home running with four active children.



Virginia and Norris were blessed with their four children: Bruce, Dan, Constance and Cathy. Virginia dearly loved her family and enjoyed the numerous activities while they were growing up.



For her sons she was a Cub Scout Den Leader and for her daughters she was a leader of Campfire Girls and 4-H groups. In addition to her role with the Surge Business and keeping the family home operating smoothly, her children took great pride in volunteering her talents to sew costumes, make treats for school or church, and to chaperone school activities.



She was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Cresco, Iowa for 42 years, serving in many different volunteer capacities from teaching Sunday School to leading church circles and quilting groups.



Virginia and Norris enjoyed their post-retirement years splitting time between the Good Life Resort in Mesa, Arizona for many winters and their northern residence in Iowa and, since 1999, in Bozeman, Montana. The kids and grandchildren in each location dearly loved the time spent together.



In Bozeman, Virginia was active with Hope Lutheran Church, Interfaith Quilters, BWAG’s Quilters, several writing groups, and an organization to feed the homeless. Quilting was her passion; and her love was her family and friends.



Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Norris, and sisters June Mathison and Faith Dredla.



Virginia is survived by her children: Bruce (Beth) Larson of Clarkston, WA, Daniel (Deb) Larson of Bozeman, MT, Constance Larson of Phoenix, AZ, and Cathy (Bill) Froyum of Scottsdale, AZ; grandchildren: Tommy (Katie) Frazier of Clarkston, WA, Carly Froyum of St. Paul, MN, Josh and Nick Froyum of Scottsdale, AZ, and Kelsey Larson of Bozeman, MT; great grandchildren: TJ and Liam Frazier of Ft. Atkinson, WI, and Spencer Frazier of Clarkston, WA. She is also survived by her brother, Noel (Ellen) Meisner of Asotin, WA, brothers-in-law Paul (June) Mathison of Preston, MN, and Jack (Faith) Dredla of Bozeman, MT, and many nieces, nephews and friends in Iowa, Arizona, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Idaho, Washington and Montana.



In lieu of flowers, memorials are welcomed to: Lutheran World Relief-Quilting; Alzheimer's Association; Hope Lutheran Church in Bozeman, MT or First Lutheran Church in Cresco, IA.