Jeffrey R Larson

Jeffrey R Larson, 68, passed away peacefully at his home on December 4, 2023 from complications of Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare and lengthy neurodegenerative disease. Jeff was born on November 9, 1955 in Minneapolis but was raised in Bemidji, Minnesota.

Jeff was preceded in death by his father, Francis Eugene Larson and brother, Neil Warren Larson. He is survived by his loving wife, Marilee Larson, his son Tony Larson (Yvonne), and daughters, Jana Salmon (Jeff Jacobson), April Engen (Jim), and Crystal Neves (Sean). Jeff was a proud and loving grandpa to Victoria (Ashlee) Schwarzhoff (Brandon), Kathleen Pearson (Sam), Yevett Roberson (Chandler), Jenett Renek, Kyra Neves, Payton Neves, Alyssa Neves, Tory Engen (Brooke Bergeron), Brady Engen (Maryn Somerville), Hannah Engen, Sadie Engen, Bailey Hanson (Tyler), Emma Eagan, Brayden Larson, Julia Larson, Ayden Salmon, Landon Salmon, Hazel Salmon, and Ella Jacobson, and Great-Granddaughter, Skylar Pearson. Jeff is also survived by his supportive, encouraging mother, Janet Larson, brothers, Scott Larson (Shelley), Loren, and sister, Pam Naughton and by in-laws, Tim and Val Trussell, Brad and DeAnna Trussell, Rob Trussell and Judy Anderson, and many nieces and nephews and friends.

Jeff, the oldest of four boys and one girl, grew up loving the woods, hunting, riding bikes around Lake Bemidji, fast cars, and getting into mischief once in a while, too. Jeff graduated from Bemidji High School in 1974. He then enrolled in the Automotive Machinist program at Bemidji Vo Tech. Raised by parents with strong work ethics, Jeff earned his first set of tools by logging some of their woods with his dad.

He enlisted in the Army in 1977 on the "Buddy Plan" with his best friend from high school, Howard Nord. Unfortunately, an injury prevented Howard from entering the Army. Jeff went to Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Then he was stationed in Hawaii. The last six months of his service, though, was on the Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands, as part of the Enewetak Clean-Up Project. The mission was to clean up nuclear waste, as the atoll had been used to test Nuclear Bombs during WWII. Unfortunately, the soldiers wore no protective gear due to the extreme heat, and subsequently, are seeing a number of health issues related to radiation exposure.

Right out of the Army, Jeff married Kalene Rafdahl and moved to Colorado, where their son, Tony and daughter, Jana were born. Soon after, they moved back to Minnesota to raise their kids near relatives. Jeff had made valued friends in Colorado, Al Huggins and Gwen Larson. When Al and Gwen met Marilee the four of them became lifelong friends. Sadly, Al passed away in 2018.

The nineties were filled with many gatherings at the Larson family property, forty-five acres of woods near Bemidji. The cabin, which they built in 1992 was camp central for annual deer hunts, holiday celebrations and plenty of badminton.

In 1996, by pure chance, Jeff met someone at the Anoka County Fair. He had hair down to his waist and an "ARMY" shirt on. The stars aligned for Jeff, when Marilee got in line behind him, and when he turned around, she said, "You weren't really in the Army, were you?" From that moment on, they were together, blending their families, taking trips by road and air, and going to the cabin as often as they could. The cabin and the woods became their sanctuary, and they were married there in 1997.

In 2001 Jeff and Marilee built a home in Cambridge, MN, and started planting trees on their two acres, creating their own little woods. They also acquired a great friend in their new neighbor, Greg Worden. About that time, the Automotive Machinist industry was not in demand and Jeff was part of a huge layoff. The State of Minnesota offered to pay for re-training so Jeff went into truck driving, mostly in the metal recycling industry.

Jeff and Marilee rode motorcycles for years, making it to Sturgis six times. They would often say, though, "It's not the destination, it's the journey". Through the years they had many motorcycle adventures including those with Al and Gwen in Iowa and Minnesota.

Jeff's health was noticeably declining by 2015. Initially misdiagnosed as having had ministrokes, he underwent about two years of physical therapy for balance issues. In 2020 Jeff was diagnosed with a malignant tumor (oral cancer), which resulted in a maxillectomy, thirty days of radiation and eight months of tube feeding.

In 2021, he went back to the VA for re-evaluation of his balance and vision symptoms, and was diagnosed with Progressive supranuclear palsy. Jeff went to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion and the Neurologist there confirmed it.

Jeff was a straight-shooter and faced the end of life with acceptance and peace. He never complained, and "just kept doing the best he could, with what he had", a phrase he and Marilee said often. Jeff was in a PSP Research Program at the Mayo Clinic and donated his brain for research.

Jeff will be remembered for his easy-going nature, irresistible smile and his readiness to lend a hand. This is not to say he was ever shy about strongly expressing his opinion.

The family is very appreciative of the extensive, personal support from the VA Home Based Primary Care, BrightStar Care of Burnsville and Lifespark Hospice.

There will be a celebration of Jeff's life in 2024.