Dale A. Larson

Mr. Dale A. Larson, age 72, Apache Junction, AZ, formerly of Sioux Falls and Clark, died on Saturday, April 4th at his home in Apache Junction, AZ. Funeral services are Saturday, April 18th at 11AM in the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Clark with the Reverend Robin Schaunaman officiating. Music will be provided by Rosella Hanson as organist with the vocalists being Scott & Ann Larson. There will also be congregational singing. Casketbearers will be Dale's grandsons: Jason Rosenwald, Jacob Wiertzema, Heith Wiertzema, Dexter VanDyke Jeremy Olson, Benjamin Larson, Matthew Larson,& Daniel Larson. Burial with military honors provided by the Smith-Cagley American Legion Post of Clark will follow at Clark Center Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation hours are 6-8PM Friday evening, April 17th at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark. Dale Alan Larson was born on September 6, 1936 at Clark, SD, the son of Ilert and Ruby (Gula) Larson. He grew up on the family farm northeast of Clark, attending Clark School graduating from Clark High School in 1954. In January of 1955 he joined the United States Air Force. In 1956 he was united in marriage to Janice Fox, to this union 4 children were born. He began his family in 1957 while in the Air Force at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho. He served his country honorably in the Air Force as an air policeman until being discharged in 1959. He returned to South Dakota and started his own business, Larsons Auto Body Shop in Sioux Falls in 1965, where he would eventually sell recreational vehicles of all kinds. He sold his business in 1992 and became a snowbird in Apache Junction, AZ. He traveled coast to coast in his big red rig and rode his Gold Wing in almost every state in the US. Dale enjoyed snowmobiling, camping, fishing, motorcycling, dancing, hunting and bicycling. He was an avid member of Alcoholics Anonymous. He had great pleasure putting to use his creative ideas and had the skill to do everything he put his mind to. He is survived by his children, Cindy (Kenny) VanDyke of Elkton, SD, Teresa Hart of Indianola, IA, Scott (Ann) Larson of Lino Lakes, MN and Wendy (Doug) Weelborg of Hayti, SD; 16 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and his brothers, Don (Neva) Larson of Sioux Falls and Richard (Darla) Larson of Highmore and his children's Mother, Jan Larson of Watertown. He also leaves many nieces and nephews. We love and miss you Dad. Preceding him in death were his parents, two sisters, Shirley and Phyllis. He will be missed by all. Services are by the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com