Durmont Arlen Larson

Durmont Arlen LARSON Age 75, of Rancho Mirage, Calif., passed away February 1, 2008, at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage following a stroke. Dur was born to Gordon and Alma Larson May 7, 1932, in the parsonage of his grandfather's Lutheran church in Silvana, Wash. He liked to say that he was "born in the manger." He moved with his family to Everett, Wash., when he was entering the fifth grade. It was there he met Kay Smith, his future wife. They were married in Seattle on January 30, 1956. He was president of his Everett High School senior class, attended the University of Washington where he pledged Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in geography from the UW. Upon graduation he entered the U.S. Air Force. He trained as a pilot at Marana, Ariz., and Laredo, Tex., air bases. He then went to air controller school in Panama City, Fla., and was stationed in Colville, Wash., until his discharge from active duty in 1958. In 1960, he entered the banking world which would take him from Seattle to Bainbridge Island and Port Orchard during his 30-year career. Some of Dur's happiest times were spent on the ski slopes of Crystal Mountain near Mt. Rainier and on fishing trips with friends. He began skiing at Crystal when the area first opened and enjoyed watching it become a major destination in the Northwest. Dur was a life-long advocate for the University of Washington, believing in the outstanding education he received there. He enjoyed many hours watching his beloved Huskies whether it was at the Rose Bowl, other bowl games or in Husky Stadium. He'd often be seen wearing purple and gold on game days even after he moved to the Coachella Valley in 1999. One of his last acts was to take a UW flag to his cousin for display in her Agua Caliente Elementary School classroom in Cathedral City. He wanted to plant the seed of attending college, the UW in particular, in the students' minds. He was a 17-year friend of Bill W. and treasured his many friends in Seattle and the desert from this fellowship. He attended meetings regularly including when he was traveling in Europe, on the beaches of Maui and on ocean cruises. After moving to the Coachella Valley, he enjoyed his association with Indian Wells Rotary and Ph.D.s, the Panhellenic Honey Doers. He and his wife served as chairmen of the annual UW Chow Down to Washington banquet. He was proud to be inducted into Indian Wells' Eisenhower Walk of Honor in 2004. Dur is survived by his wife, Kay, of 52 years, his son, Jeff, of Chicago and numerous cousins with whom he spent many happy times. At Dur's request, no funeral service will be held. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to the University of Washington Athletic Department, Tyee Office, Box 354070, Seattle, WA 98195-4070 designated for the Don James Football Scholarship Fund or the Marv Harshman Basketball Scholarship Fund; the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, P.O. Box 38, Columbus, OH 43216, directed to the Leadership Academy campaign; or a charity of your choice.