Paul Larsen

The funeral for Paul A. Larsen, 78, of Crawford will be 1 p.m. Monday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte.

He died Monday, March 5, 2007, at Arbor Manor Living Center in Fremont.

He was born April 10, 1928, on the Larsen homestead, six miles west of Springview, to Arthur and Edna (Heeb) Larsen. He grew up in Springview and was a 1945 graduate of Keya Paha High School in Springview. He served in the U.S. Army with the Heavy Mortar Co., 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, during the Korean War from Jan. 15, 1952, to Oct. 14, 1953. He held the rank of technical sergeant and received the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, Combat Infantry Badge, one Overseas Bar and United Nations Service Medal. He returned to Springview after his discharge and resided there until 1978 when he moved to Chadron. In 1980, he moved to Crawford. He was a commercial truck driver since age 14 and was employed by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission at Fort Robinson for more than 20 years. He was a private pilot, cattleman and horseman. He refereed high school basketball, baseball and football games. He also drove the school bus for activities and a commercial bus for several years.

He married Jeanette Murphy in 1950 in Hot Springs, S.D. They later divorced. He married Ruby Doll Jackson on May 28, 1954, in Ainsworth. They later divorced.

He was a member of American Legion Post 98 at Springview, the Keya Paha Alumni Association and the United Methodist Church.

Survivors include: four daughters, Stephanie (and husband, Randy) Hartman of Valley, Sue (and husband, Neil) McCormick and Paul Larsen, all of Kula Maui, Hawaii, and Jill (and husband, Rob) Dick of Chesapeake, Va.; a brother, Norman "Bud" (and wife, Marilyn) Larsen of Springview; two sisters, Donna (and husband, Dale) Brown of Whitney and Patricia (and husband, Dale) Sampy of Ansley; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by an infant son and a great-granddaughter.

The Rev. Rodney Armon of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Doniphan will officiate Monday's service. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte. Burial will be 2:30 p.m. Monday at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell with military graveside services conducted by the North Platte Veterans Honor Guard.

Memorials are suggested to the family for a memorial yet to be established.