Funeral services for Eldor George “Lars” Larson, age 85, of Watertown, SD, will be held on Thursday, December 10, 2009.  There will be a 10:00 a.m. service at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown with Rev. Stephen Lauricella officiating and a 2:00 p.m. service at Tabor Lutheran Church in Strandburg, SD, with Rev. Elmer Brinkman officiating.  Music for the Watertown service will be provided by Marcia Jelsma, Judy Everson and Eldor’s four sons.  Eldor passed away on Sunday, December 6, 2009, at his residence.

     Burial will be at Tabor Lutheran Cemetery in Strandburg.  Military graveside honors will be provided by Post #171 of the American Legion, Stockholm/Strandburg, and the Military Funeral Honors Team of the South Dakota National Guard.  Honorary pallbearers will be in memory of: Herb Dahlgren, Butch Richter, John Kleinsasser, Nellie Moe, and A.B. Holm.  Active pallbearers will be: Ryan Larson, Aaron Larson, John Jerombeck, Jason Jerombeck, Rob Warndahl, and Tate Uthe.

     Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Thursday prior to both of the services in Watertown and in Strandburg.

     Memorials may be directed to the Grace Lutheran Church Foundation, Tabor Lutheran Church, and Prairie Lakes Hospice.

     Eldor was born on July 16, 1924, on the family farm southwest of Strandburg, SD, to George and Annie (Dahlgren) Larson.  He was raised on the farm and walked to elementary school in Strandburg through the eighth grade.  Eldor was confirmed at Tabor Lutheran Church.  The family left the farm and moved into Strandburg where his parents operated a small café.  Eldor graduated from Strandburg High School in 1942.  Following graduation, he attended Gustavus Adolphus College for the fall semester before being drafted into the U.S. Army.  He served for 2 ½ years, which included a tour to Leyte in the Philippines.  Eldor was honorably discharged in February 1946.

     Upon returning from the service, he attended college at Northern in Aberdeen, SD.  1n 1947, he transferred to General Beadle Teachers’ College in Madison, SD, and in 1948, he graduated with a state certificate that permitted him to teach and coach

     On August 18, 1948, he married Vivian Evjen at Tabor Lutheran Church in Strandburg.  Eldor’s first job was as a teacher/coach in his home town and the ‘Swedish Tigers’ went to the State Basketball Tournament that first year, in 1948-49.  After three years, he went back to General Beadle to get his BS Degree and in 1952, became a teacher/coach in South Shore.  He later became superintendent. Eldor earned his Master’s Degree in Education Administration in 1960 from SDSU, Brookings, SD, by attending Saturday classes and summer school.  That year Eldor accepted the superintendent position in Hanley Falls, MN.  The family later moved to Grey Eagle, Lindstrom-Center City-Shafer, Roseau, and Park Rapids.  In 1983, they moved back to South Dakota where Eldor became superintendent/elementary principal at Corona, SD.  When that district dissolved, the family moved to Midland, SD, where Eldor held a similar position.  Eldor retired in 1989 and moved to Watertown.

     He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church.  He was a ‘life member’ of the American Legion, the V.F.W., Retired Educators of Minnesota, Watertown Area Teachers, and the South Dakota Retired Teachers’ Association.  He was also a member of Sons of Norway, Golden Age and the Watertown Senior Citizens.  Eldor taught over 30 AARP classes for 55/Alive Defensive Driving.  He seldom missed Tuesday and Friday morning senior bowling and was especially happy when Vivian came along to bowl.  Eldor was a charter member of the South Dakota Sr. Games Hall of Fame and a member of the Watertown Men’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame.  He was named to the Dakota State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 and inducted into the SD Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.  In Eldor’s younger years, he enjoyed trapping, hunting, and fishing.  If there was a ball around, you’d probably find Eldor; baseball, softball, and football.  Bowling was his best sport, but he also enjoyed golf, pool, table tennis, and horseshoe.

     Eldor is survived by his wife, Vivian, of Watertown; seven children: Deland (Joane) Larson of Monticello, MN, Noreen (Larry) Warndahl of Center City, MN, Alan Larson of Elk River, MN, Ken Larson of Watertown, SD, Julie (Jim) Jerombeck of Grand Forks, ND, Richard (Vicki) Larson of Lakeville, MN, and Sherri (Travas) Uthe of Watertown, SD; 15 grandchildren; 6 great-granddaughters; and several cousins.

     He was preceded in death by one infant daughter, Onalee; one grandson, Steve; his parents; his only brother, Luverne; and one infant sister.