Roger Ray Larson

Roger Ray Larson, 73, a disabled veteran of Vietnam and longtime resident in the Loveland/Berthoud, Colorado area passed away on July 19, 2019.

Roger Larson was a very loving and generous man. His heart was always bigger than his wallet and he found every way he could to help those he knew that needed someone to believe in them and lift them up. Roger was always putting others ahead of him and if you asked him about his cause of death, he would have redirected you to how you or your family were doing. If you asked Marcia, his beloved wife, she would tell you that his heart just finally gave out after years of pain and struggle with medical issues following his military service. Roger would not have wanted his obituary to focus on his health or the details of his passing.

Roger was born to John Larson and Marie Stockdale on January 26, 1946 in his parent's home in McClelland, Iowa. As a young man he resided in McClelland, Iowa, and he graduated from Underwood High School in 1964. Roger was a medaled athlete and excelled particularly in track and field in both high school and college. Roger still holds the Iowa state record for the longest football throw (age 16). In October of 1964, Roger enlisted in the Air Force in Omaha, Nebraska. On New Year’s Eve of 1965, he met Marcia Ann Modrow at the USO in Minot, North Dakota and it was love at first sight. Four months later, Roger was deployed to Vietnam. In Vietnam, Roger excelled as an aerospace photographic equipment specialist and attained the rank of Airman First Class. While Roger was serving, Marcia and Roger courted through love letters and planned their wedding for his return. Two weeks after he returned stateside, Roger and Marcia were married on July 23, 1967 in Rugby, North Dakota and were inseparable for the next fifty-two years.

Roger attended the University of North Dakota and in 1974 received his B.A. in social work. Roger then began his career as a social worker, family therapist, and adoption specialist. Roger worked for almost thirty years helping other families get through the toughest of times in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Adams County, Colorado and Larimer County, Colorado. The number of people that he helped in his job and throughout his life simply cannot be measured. Roger and Marcia raised three children together, living in McClelland, Iowa and Loveland, Colorado. He enjoyed hiking in the Rocky Mountains with his family. Roger enthusiastically researched code and the Fibonacci sequence, American history and John F. Kennedy. He loved to sit with those he cared about discussing issues and sharing his knowledge. He was a wise man who could be stubborn but always appreciated the debate. After retirement, Roger and Marcia resided in Berthoud, Colorado and spent many nights avidly watching the best old movies and reading. Roger opened his home to Marcia’s parents as they aged and made sure they were taken care of. They attended the Jamestown Bible Church in the mountains of Jamestown, Colorado.

Roger is survived by his wife, Marcia; brothers, David Larson and Jeff Larson of McClelland, Iowa; his children, Jennifer Larson (Wade Powell) of Phoenix, Arizona, Zachariah Larson (Shara Larson) of Berthoud, Colorado, and Thaddeus Larson (Heidi Larson) of Loveland, Colorado; and by his grandchildren: Willem, Alexander, Benjamin, Christopher, Eliza and Ava.

Roger loved his wife, admired and respected his children and liked just about every person he ever met, even if he disagreed with them. He will be greatly missed by those he loved and those who loved him.

Visitation for family and friends will be at Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Friday, July 26, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Full military graveside services will be held on July 27, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the Hardin Township Cemetery in Pottawattamie County, Iowa near McClelland, Iowa.

There will be a luncheon at the McClelland Town Hall following the graveside service.