Torbjorn "Toby" Larsen

LARSEN, TORBJOR

Torbjorn "Toby" Larsen, age 82, died on December 18, 2009 at the E.T. York Hospice Care Center in Gainesville, Florida.

Toby was born in Nordfold, Norway on April 4, 1927, where his mother's family had lived for generations. His family homestead was located on a remote fjord, and his village was without electricity throughout his childhood. He was the fourth of ten children, the son of Esther Simonsen and Oskar Larsen. For part of his childhood he lived with his beloved aunt, Magna Simonsen and her husband Arnolf. Christmas was a special time of year for him--he grew up north of the Arctic Circle, and during the holiday season, the sun would disappear behind the mountains and the northern lights would fill the sky.

He grew up working on his family farm, taught at a one-room schoolhouse, and was a captain in the Norwegian military corp of engineers, a branch of NATO forces. He immigrated to the United States on a student visa in 1955, and received his master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1958. In 1962 he married Ingeborg Klagge. Five years later, they became U.S. citizens. He did post-graduate work at Northwestern University while working full time, but subsequently suspended his studies to devote more time to his growing family.

As a child, he helped his parents build their house. As an adult, he built two houses for himself and his family, one in Illinois and one in Gainesville, Florida. The second house, constructed from 1974 to 1975 with the help of his wife and friends, incorporated energy-saving technology and scientifically advanced ideas. He spoke five languages and had an encyclopedic knowledge of world history. Toby had an enduring love of teaching, construction, and all things Norwegian. He cherished spending time with his family, and especially enjoyed taking road trips with them to historic sites and parks. He also loved traveling the world with his wife in his later years.

As a research civil engineer at Portland Cement in the 1950s, Toby was proudest of his authorship of manuals on soil cement that were used internationally. He enjoyed presenting papers and lecturing on civil engineering science all over the world, held a patent on pavement construction, and designed a concrete that used recycled materials. He was a member of various national task forces on concrete technology, and contributed his expertise to several professional societies. At the Florida Department of Transportation, he established and ran the materials research section.

With his wife of 47 years, Ingeborg Klagge Larsen, he had four children: Kristin Larsen (married to Glenn Acomb), Karin Larsen, Bjorn Larsen (married to Marit Trelstad), and Sonja Larsen (married to John Bourdeau). He also had three grandchildren, Tove and Kai Trelstad-Larsen, and Lena Larsen-Bourdeau.

He lives on in the hearts and minds of his family and friends.

There will be a memorial service at Milam Funeral Home on Tuesday December 22, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial donations to the E.T. York Hospice Care Center, 4200 N.W. 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606 or to the Alzheimer's Association. MILAM FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES 311 South main Street Gainesville, FL. 32601 (352) 376-5361.