Allen “Al” Larson, age 70, of Carrington, ND died peacefully at his home on May 30, 2010, after a courageous battle with cancer under the care of his family and Hospice.
Allen Jerome Larson was born in Nome, ND, on July 12, 1939, as the only child of Amund and Gertha (Thorstenson) Larson. Al was raised in Kathryn, ND, and graduated from High School in 1957. Through dedication in Boy Scouts, he achieved the level of Eagle Scout.
Al graduated from Valley City State with a teaching and coaching degree. While attending college, he participated in football, wrestling and track and was a three time college wrestling State Champion. Along with his teaching degree, Al attended graduate school on a National Science Foundation Scholarship at the University of Nebraska and Dillard University in New Orleans. He earned master’s degrees in Physical Education (University of Northern Colorado), Botany (University of Nebraska), and Educational Administration (Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD).
On June 12, 1960, Al was joined in marriage with Dianne Pederson in Kathryn. They spent 50 years together filled with love, happiness and adventure. They were to have celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on June 12, 2010. Their relationship was to be admired and was an inspiration to their children and grandchildren.
Al and Dianne spent 3 years in Rogers, ND, where Al taught and coached. In 1964, they choose Carrington, ND, and Trinity Lutheran Church as an ideal community to raise their family.
Al gave 33 years of his life to the Carrington Schools. He taught Science and Physical Education for 11 years before becoming the High School Principal and Athletic Director in 1975, until his retirement in 1998. He worked with 130 teachers, five superintendents, seven secretaries and over 7,000 students. Al coached many sports in Carrington, but wrestling was his passion. He coached many successful wrestling teams from 1964 - 1979. In his 15 years, he amassed an impressive 184-53-4 dual meet record, won seven North Star Conference Championships in Class A, and ten Class A Regional Titles. He coached 5 State Champions and 31 State Placers. Al held the positions of President of the ND Wrestling Coaches Association and President of the Athletic Directors Association during his career.
Al received many honors and awards for wrestling including being named ND Coach of the Year and District 7 Coach of the Year (for 7 states) in 1974; he was inducted into the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1982, the ND Coaches Hall of Fame in 1985, NDIAAA Hall of Fame in 1991, VCSU Hall of Fame as a team (Football, Wrestling and Track) in 1991, and the VCSU Hall of Fame as an individual in 2000. Al was inducted into the Coaches Hall of Fame for his work in starting the foreign exchange wrestling programs in North Dakota. He traveled with a team to Austria and Germany in 1978 and brought several other countries to wrestle in North Dakota, including Japan.
Al refereed high school and college wrestling from 1961 - 1984. He was one of the first to broadcast wrestling on the radio in the state of North Dakota for KDAK in Carrington. Al was President of the Golf Club in Carrington for 6 years during which time the new 18-hole CrossRoads Golf Club was built. He was a charter member of the Carrington Lions Club and held several offices within the club, is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Chamber of Commerce, Honorary C Club Member, Honorary FFA Club Member, and a charter member of the Carrington Sports Boosters Club.
Al enjoyed traveling and took many trips throughout the years. He visited all 50 states and 11 foreign countries. Among his favorites were an Alaskan Cruise, Mexico, Hawaii, and his most recent trip, a European Cruise, with their dear friends Red and Evie Skytland in the summer of 2009.
Growing up, Al was a die-hard Green Bay Packer fan as this was the closest professional team in the area at that time. When Carrington’s own Jimmy Kleinsasser started playing for the Minnesota Vikings, Al started arranging annual bus trips from Carrington to Minneapolis and the conversion to a Vikings fan began. Al finalized plans for the 2010 trip in his final days.
Al also enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren and watching his grandchildren participate in activities. He was especially proud to be present in March, 2010, when Grandson Corby won the State Wrestling Championship for the 2nd time in Ohio.
Al will be remembered for his quick wit and one-liner’s which he continued throughout his illness. He stayed positive till the end never complaining and made it easy for Dianne and his daughters to care for him.
Al is survived by his wife, Dianne, 3 daughters Cindy and Randy Running - Grandchildren
Spencer, Corby and Wyatt Running from Wilmington, OH; Patricia and Dave Christen - Grandchildren Holly, Shane, Brady and Chase Christen from Grand Forks, North Dakota; Nancy and Tim Pinke - Grandchildren Austin, Kyle and Noah Pinke from St. James, Minnesota. Also many Cousins and Aunts; and their dear friends Red and Evie Skytland.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral Service: Trinity Lutheran Church, Carrington, ND
Date & Time: Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 10:30AM
Burial: Carrington Cemetery |
