Dorothy Sunset Larson

Dorothy Sunset Larson, age 82, formerly of Westby, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at MN Masonic Homes in Bloomington, MN following months of suffering and pain. She was born on January 14, 1924 in Roseau, MN to Andrew and Hattie (Olson) Sunset. Dorothy attended the Roseau schools plus a year at the Roseau Normal School. She then taught in a one room school outside of Roseau. After one year of teaching Dorothy and her sister Grace went to Portland, OR to join her father and brother Walter. They all worked in a shipyard. Dorothy joined the Boilermakers Union and worked as a welder for over a year. Upon her return, she obtained her 2 year teaching certificate from Bemidji, MN State College and taught elementary school at Thief River Falls and Bemidji for several years. Dorothy later moved to Minneapolis and obtained a job in the internal audit department of Cargill, Inc. In Minneapolis, Dorothy was active in the Central Lutheran singles group and enjoyed outdoor activities including downhill skiing and golf. Dorothy met Gerry Larson when they were both members of Twin Cities Lutheran Young Adults. They were married in Central Lutheran Church on Feb. 21, 1959. During the first couple of years of marriage they lived in New Prague and Bloomington, MN, Viroqua, WI and finally in Westby, WI. They had one daughter, Gloria. In Westby, Dorothy was active in church affairs, holding most of the offices in the Our Saviors Church Ladies Organization. Her other interests included many types of needlework and sewing as well as various other arts and crafts as well as gardening. The Larson family belonged to the WI chapter of the International Flying Farmers (IFF). Dorothy served as the chapter queen in 1976 was named WI Woman of the Year in 1989. The family often combined trips to conventions for the IFF or Gerrys business with visits to family and friends. After Gerrys retirement in 1982, Dorothy and Gerry spent many winters in AZ. Here Dorothy continued to be involved in many arts and crafts. She and Gerry spent many hours square dancing and hiking in the Superstition Mountains. They also continued to travel, often with Elderhostel Groups. In 2000, Dorothy moved to Maplewood Terrace in Viroqua, WI after Gerrys death. Several years later, she moved to the Twin Cities in order to be closer to her daughter, Gloria. Dorothy is survived by one daughter, Gloria Larson and her husband Clark Piepho of Bloomington, MN, her brother Walter Sunset of Milwaukee, OR, and her sisters Margery Britigan of Bloomington, MN, and Grace Lynch of Tacoma, WA. She was preceded in death by her husband Gerald, her parents Andrew and Hattie Sunset, and her sisters Francis Karlsson, Marian Tryon, Florence Knutson, and Patricia Krantz. Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 1, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at the Vosseteig Funeral Home, 708 S. Hwy 14 in Westby, WI. Pastor Gary Daines will officiate with burial in the Onalaska Cemetery. Friends may call after 9:30 a.m. on Monday at the Vosseteig Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials may be given to the MN Masonic Homes, Bloomington, MN, Maplewood Terrace, Viroqua, WI, or the American Diabetes Association.