Services for O. John Larson will be held at 11 AM, Wednesday, February 23 ^rd at Christ United Methodist Church, 400 5 ^th Avenue SW, Rochester. Visitation will be held from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Tuesday evening February 22, 2011 at the new River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home (1119 11 ½ Street SE Rochester) and one hour prior to services at the church.

He died peacefully Saturday, February 19, 2011, in St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Born August 29, 1942 in Hallock, MN to Oliven  V. and R. Helen (Witt) Larson, John  grew up in Pembina, ND and graduated from high school in 1960.  He attended Mayville State Teacher's College, graduating in 1965 with a degree in Business and English.  He taught school in California, Montana, Minnesota, and   West Fargo, ND.   He received a Master's degree in school administration from Tri- College in Fargo-Moorhead.   He was principal in Cumberland, WI, Hinkley, MN, and Dodge Center, MN.  He was Superintendent in the Elgin-Melville, MN and Truman, MN school districts.  He retired in June, 2010,

John married Almae Anderson at Grace Lutheran Church in Hallock, MN on November 4, 1961.  Almae survives him along with their children David (Dawn) of Fargo, ND, Derek (Julia) of Reno, NV, Julie (Bruce Jackson) of Portland, OR, grandchildren Brandon, Shilo, Marissa, and Kylee Larson of Fargo, ND, Chelsea and Luke Larson of Cape Vincent, NY, Christina and Erica Jackson of Portland, OR, and great-granddaughter Ava of Cape Vincent, NY.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and by Almae's parents, Ernest and Alma Anderson, and brother-in-law LaMar Anderson.  He is survived by sisters Garnet (Richard Muehlhausen), Marcie (Jim McDevitt), and brother Mark Larson (Nancy Bjork); brothers-in-law Charles Anderson (Marilyn) and David Anderson, sister-in-law Donna Teien (Jim Utect), and  19 nieces and nephews.

He was devoted to his family and friends.  He enjoyed pheasant hunting.  His love of horses enabled him to participate in field trials, trail riding, and attending auctions.  He enjoyed driving his horse and cart in parades.  Last summer he drove his horse and cart in the Winnebago Wagon Train.

He wanted every day of his life to be a parade and lived by the motto, "Every day that I live positively is a better day lived."

Memorials are preferred to Mayo Clinic Cancer Research, or to donor's choice.