Harriet Eleanor Larson

Harriet went home to be with her Lord on Oct. 22, 2009 at age 95. She was born in Climax, MN, July 16, 1914, to Anton and Sara (Berg) Bangen, the first of seven children. When she was a toddler, the family homesteaded in Sanish, ND. She was able to attend school through 8th grade, then became a "mother's helper" both at home and at a neighboring farm. Later on, she also worked as a waitress in a nearby town. On Nov. 29, 1938, she married Mederith J. Larson, a friend and neighbor from Sanish, ND. A few years earlier, "Med" had joined the Army and asked if she would send him a picture and write to him so his name would get called during "mail call." This friendship developed into a romance that would last 66 years until his death in 2005. They had four children, 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Because Med was a career Army man, Harriet became an expert household "mover" as they traveled around the globe-quite a change for the small-town North Dakota girl who hadn't even seen a city until she was a teenager. She loved the Army life-new friends, new places, new churches. They had many, many lifelong friends with whom they kept in touch. After Army retirement in 1957, Harriet and Med settled in Brush Prairie, WA, where he began a second career as an insurance adjuster. In later years, Harriet enjoyed riding along with Med as he traveled around Oregon and Washington on work-related business, often taking along firstborn grandson, Timothy Larson, whom she babysat. They both loved living on a multi-generational "family farm" where they daily saw their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Harriet could often be found baking pies, making chocolate chip cookies or holding her great-grandchildren. They were members of Brush Prairie Baptist Church for 50 years-at one time Harriet mentioned that she and Med held 19 different positions: teaching Sunday school, leading youth group, music, ladies aid society, church maintenance, church camp, cooking, etc. In later years, they enjoyed their seniors Bible study group, the Golden Heirs. Survivors: sons, Gaylen (Janet) of Meridian, ID, and Roland (Deanna) of Erie, PA; daughters, Jane (Don Clark), and Nancy (Steve Stout) of Brush Prairie, WA; brother, Arvid (Helen) Bangen of New Town, ND; sisters, Ruth Wollan Richardson of Bismarck, ND and Thelma Collins of Vancouver, WA; ten grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Harriet Eleanor Larson

July 16, 1914 - October 22, 2009