Wilma A. Larsen

Wilma A. Larsen, 92 of Kearney died Monday, September 8, 2014 at Mt. Carmel Home in Kearney. Funeral services will be 9:30 AM, Saturday September 13, 2014 at O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. The Rev. Eric Lesher will officiate. Interment will be in the Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time. Memorials are suggested to First Lutheran Church in Kearney or to donor's choice. On-line condolences may be shared at osrfh.com. O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home of Kearney is in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to The First Lutheran Church in Kearney. She was born August 24, 1922 in rural Bladen, Ne. to Wallace and Martha (Naggatz) Anderson. She graduated from Hastings High School at age 16 and Hastings College at age 19. She managed the office in the family business, the International Harvester dealership, in Superior, Ne. She earned her Maters Degree at Kansas State University. Taught High School in Bertrand, Exeter, Mitchell, Gibbon, and Odessa. She was married to Robert A. Larsen on June 8, 1950 in Hastings, NE. She joined the Kearney State Teachers College faculty in 1955. Founded the Child Development program and was it’s director for 32 years, she was also the Chair of the Home Economics Department for more than 20 years. She attended Oregon State University where she completed work towards her Doctorate. When she retired in 1987, Kearney State College dedicated the Child Development lab in her honor, it remains the Wilma A. Larsen Child Development Lab to this day. Wilma was a dedicated Wife and Mother, worked tirelessly in the interest of the family farms, her sons and Kearney State College. She was a member of The First Lutheran Church in Kearney for more than sixty years. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Delta Kappa Gamma, The Buffalo County Historical Society, Rails and Trails Museum, The South Inland Cemetery Association were all dear to her heart, and she spent her retirement in their interest. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Robert. Family members include sons and their wives: Tom and Julie Larsen, Theodore and Penny Larsen all of Kearney. Grandchildren , Liz and Dennis Everett of Roseville, CA; Stacy and John Kolvek of Omaha; Kirsten Larsen of Bellevue WA; Alex Larsen of Arlington, VA. ; Grace Larsen of Kearney; Sarah Larsen of Lawrence, KS; and Seth Larsen of Kearney. She battled dementia late in life, and will be sorely missed by all.

Wilma A. Larsen

August 24, 1922 - September 8, 2014