Doris I Larson

Doris (Houghton) Larson, age 88, Watertown, died late on Friday night, January 10, 2014 in the Prairie Lakes Hospital at Watertown with family at her side. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2014 from 5-7PM at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark and will continue on Friday morning after 11AM at the Church in Watertown. Services from Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer Watertown, South Dakota Friday, January 17, 2014 at 1:00 PM Officiating The Reverend Kathy Hibbert Music AJ Sherrillorganist & pianist Congregational Singing "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty" #413 "Borning Cry" #732 "Lead on, Oh King Eternal" #805 "On Eagle's Wings" #787 "How Great Thou Art" #856 Honorary Casketbearers All of Doris' granddaughters Active Casketbearers All of Doris' grandsons and Arthur Kohn, Dallas Bowen, Charlie, Greg and Rod Larson Interment Will be at a later date in the Collins Cemetery Willow Lake, SD She was born Doris I. Houghton, the eldest of 14 children born to Charles and Mata (Gehrke) Houghton, at Willow Lake on October 18, 1925. She was schooled in Collins Township and then graduated from Willow Lake High School. Following her schooling she worked for various businesses' including a bank at Garden City and Clark. During her lifetime Doris also worked for Midland National Life Ins. Co. in Watertown, U.S.P.S., the Clark School District - serving as the Secretary to the Business Manager, Fairfield Products in Clark and served as Housemother at ATCO in Watertown and also at the SDSU Farmhouse Fraternity. Later in life Doris had attended and graduated from the Watertown School of Cosmetology, although only giving haircuts and styles to family members. She had served as a Foster Grandparent in Watertown. On October 7, 1949 she was united in marriage to Ivan R. Larson at Watertown. The couple lived and farmed in Clark County until 1958 when Ivan began a trucking operation. To this union 5 children, Janet, Charlie, Greg, Rod and Mara were born. The couple later divorced. Ivan died August 5, 2003. Doris, or as many affectionately called her "The Warden", a nickname pinned on her from her brother, Ron who was in the service at the time, will long be remembered for her love of reading, bowling, playing cards, visiting and second to none - bragging about her grandchildren. She was thoroughly proud of not only her immediate family, but also the large extended Houghton Family, attended every reunion over the years that anyone can remember, also known as the "Matriarch" of the family! She was a member of the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer at Watertown. Preceding her in death were her parents, step-mother, Florence Noethlich Houghton, siblings, Bud, Clifford, Virene (John) Stromsness, Bill, Adele Reed and Ron, a brother-in-law, Phil Emel, and step-brothers, Donald and Laurel Noethlich. Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Janet Albers of Watertown, Charlie (Aggie) Larson of Spearfish, SD and children, Annie and Ben, Greg (Ginger) Larson of San Marcos, CA and children, Erica, Jared and Zachary, Rod Larson of Belle Fourche, SD and children Nathan, and Nickollette (Austin) Swanhorst and Mara (Arthur) Kohn of Nokesville, VA and children, Shelby and Trae; siblings, Robert (Lola) Houghton of Colorado Springs, CO, Ed (JoAnn) Houghton of Ashland, OR, Donna (Bernie) Hamilton of Eden Prairie, MN, Janice (CK) Killingsworth of Loomis, CA, Karen Emel of Newport, WA, Linda (Don) Fleeger of Webster and Carole (Doug) Kettwig of Watertown; brother-in-law, Gordon Reed of Alta Loma, CA, sisters-in-law, Elsie Houghton of Willow Lake, Karen Houghton of Eden Prairie, MN and Terri Houghton of Grants Pass, OR. Also surviving is a step-sister, Marlys (Keith) Larson of DeSmet and a step-sister-in-law, Judy Noethlich of Doland and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements are announced by the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com