Betty Joan Larson (nee Erickson), age 86, of Eau Claire, WI passed away peacefully on Monday, September 3, 2018 at BeeHive Homes, Eau Claire. Betty was born December 8, 1931 in Bennett Valley, town of Dover, Buffalo County on the E.M. Amidon farm. She is the daughter of Bennie and Johanna (Hovey) Erickson. Betty attended grade school in a one room school house in West Bennett Valley, and later attended Gilmanton High School for two years. Betty's parents then purchased and moved the family to a farm in Eleva, WI, where she graduated as class valedictorian from Eleva-Strum Central High School in 1950. In 1950, Betty entered the Luther Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in July 1953. She met her future husband, Raymond A. Larson Jr., when he was her patient at Luther. While on affiliation, at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Betty and Ray eloped to Crowne Point, Indiana on May 17, 1953. They were married for 65 years. Betty was active in volunteer work including the Eau Claire Service League, Luther Hospital, Luther Hospital Auxiliary and various agencies, many with medical connections. Betty was the proud recipient of the Luther Hospital Good Samaritan of the Year in 2004. Betty was an avid reader with a love for oil painting, stitchery, antiquing, gardening, all things sports related and travel. Betty found the birth places, in Norway, of her 4 grandparents and enjoyed spending time with her and Ray's Norwegian relatives, utilizing her fluent Norwegian abilities. Betty loved being with her family, cooking and baking their favorite dishes, and spending special time with friends and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Betty is survived by husband, Ray; her four children, Ingrid Jo Larson-Coobs of Eau Claire, Eric Jon Larson of Hopkins, MN, Christopher Ray (Mary) Larson of Eau Claire and Andrea Beth (Menno Enters) Larson of N. Barrington, IL; her 13 precious grandchildren, Ben (Lindsey) Coobs, Rebecca (Blake) Stephens, Andrew Larson, Nathan DeCoster, Erica (Christoph) Bautze, Brita, Brynn and Molly Larson, Edan and Lars Cashmore, Matthijs, Marek and Aidan Enters; and loving niece, Dawne (Erickson) Bradford, married to Charles. Betty is furthered survived by 6 great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Vanessa and Samantha Coobs, Mika and Kimi Bautze and Brooks DeCoster. Betty is proceeded in death by her maternal grandmother, Mary Hovey, who taught her to speak Norwegian; her parents, Bennie and Johanna (Hovey) Erickson; a brother and sister-in-law, Donald James and Grace Erickson. Mother and father-in-law, Ray and Inga (Tauger) Larson; sister-in-law, Elaine "Sis" (Larson) Spooner; and brother-in-law, Aleron Larson. A celebration of life visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 7, 2018, at the West Chapel of Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, 1405 N Clairemont Ave, Eau Claire. A private interment at Forest Hill Cemetery will take place at a later date. Memorial donations are directed to Mayo Clinic Health System – Luther Campus, Cancer Center, Re: Donation in Memory of Betty Larson, 1400 Bellinger Street, Eau Claire, WI 54703. To express online condolences, please visit www.lenmarkfh.com

Service Information

Visitation

Friday, September 7 2018 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn West Chapel 1405 N. Clairemont Ave Eau Claire WI 54703