Joanne Delores Larson

Obituary of Joanne Delores Larson

Joanne passed away at N.C. Little Memorial Hospice in Edina on January 30, 2026, at the age of 93. She was preceded in death by her husband Gerald Larson and great grandson Quinn. She is survived and celebrated by her son Craig (Barb), son Jay (Linda), and daughter Jennifer (Andrew) Block; grandchildren Kimberly Larson, Amy (Alex) Glitsos, Jessica Block, Cora Eden, Aislynn (Dalton) Gillum, and Aidan (Abby) Quinn; and great grandchildren Georgia Glitsos and Miles Glitsos. She also leaves behind many long-time friends.

Joanne was born April 2, 1932, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, the youngest of three children of Peter and Lenora DeVries. As a teenager Joanne worked at the family business, DeVries Dairy doing home delivery with her dad (hated getting up so early but loved being with her dad), running the milk bottle wash machine, and helping with the weekly billing (learned to do math quickly in her head). Growing up she also learned about caring for family as her parents took in many family members over the years – her two grandpas, several aunts, a cousin, and a friend or two. She graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1950 and entered nursing school. After six months of training she got her "cap" but left the program as she decided nursing wasn't the right fit for her. She then attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen graduating in 1954 with a double major in Math and Business.

Gerry and Joanne were school classmates starting in 2nd grade. Just before the start of their senior year of high school, they began dating. They got engaged in the summer of 1952 and married in March 1953. Right after graduation from Northern Joanne went to California to live with Gerry in a married housing trailer park while Gerry was stationed there with the Army near the end of the Korean Conflict.

They moved back to Aberdeen when Gerry was discharged in the summer of 1955 and son Craig was born that July. They moved to Minneapolis that fall. Gerry started working at 3M in spring 1958 and son Jay was born later that year. They lived in Bloomington, then St. Paul and in 1966 moved to Edina. Joanne always wanted a daughter (and no more boys) so in 1969 they adopted Jennifer. They stayed in Edina until all three children had finished high school, then lived in Bloomington, Sun City West, and finally moved into Summerhill Co-op in Eden Prairie.

Over the years Joanne taught high school math, taught various adult classes, and worked as a bookkeeper in a law office. Her passion though, after her children, was the many groups and causes she was involved in. She joined Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina in 1966 and over the last 60 years has been involved in Edynamoes, Martha Circle, Session, and various other special programs. She was a member of PEO and enjoyed working on their philanthropic activities. She brought that same energy to Summerhill as a board member and on various committees.

In all of her activities she was known to be strong willed, honest, and not afraid to speak her mind. Woven through all of those activities were her book clubs, bridge club, and gatherings with friends.

Joanne maintained life-long friendships with many of her Aberdeen classmates (Nifty-Fifties), the families of Gerry's great 3M co-workers (multi-family ski trips), the Meadow Ridge neighbors (lots of parties), and most recently all of the wonderful residents at Summerhill (want to get together for a glass of wine?). And most of all Joanne relished gathering with her family, especially the grandchildren and great grandchildren, for holidays, birthdays, out for pizza, and to concerts and shows. She will be missed dearly and remembered fondly by all of us.

Joanne requested that we hold a small service for her immediate family at Fort Snelling National Cemetery where she will be interred with Gerry. Of course, if any of her friends gather for a glass of wine and some peanut M&M's in her memory, she will be with you in spirit.

The family asks that donations to honor Joanne's memory be made to N.C. Little Memorial Hospice (7019 Lynmar Lane, Edina, MN, 55435), where Joanne spent the final days of her life in comfort and at peace.