Larus "Larry" Thomasson

Larus "Larry" J.W. Thomasson, 93-year-old resident of Little Falls, MN, passed away Saturday, December 13, 2025, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls, MN.

Funeral service held on Friday, December 19, 2025, at First Lutheran Church in Little Falls, at 11:00 AM, with Bob Mueller officiating. Visitation held from 10:00-11:00 AM on Friday, prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Drayton, ND, at a later date. Caring for Larry and his family is the LeMieur Funeral Home in Little Falls.

Larry was born on November 19, 1932, to Larus and Petrina (Magnusson) Thomasson at his aunt's home in Park River, ND. He lived his early years with his parents in Garder, ND, and Park River, ND. When he was 9 years old, they moved to Drayton, ND, where Larry graduated from high school in 1950. In 1954, he graduated magna cum laude from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, and sang in the Concordia Choir. Larry married Zelta Marsh on September 18, 1954, in Drayton, ND. Although this marriage ended in divorce, together they had four children: Ann, Kristin, Larus Mark, and Joan. He taught music, band, and choir in North Dakota for 15 years-in Beulah, ND, Valley City, ND, and Wahpeton, ND. After moving to Little Falls, MN, in 1970, he taught music in Little Falls Community Middle School for 24 years. Larry married Sylvia Jeffery on March 24, 1979, in the First Lutheran Church in Little Falls. They enjoyed going to Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis and many musical events in St. Cloud and Brainerd. Larry was a member of Kiwanis and the Little Falls Barbershop group for many years. As a member of First Lutheran Church, he directed the senior choir for 20 years and continued to sing with this group until his eyesight failed. Some of Larry's happiest times were at their cabin on Lake Alexander near Little Falls where he took children and grandchildren boating and fishing, listened to the loons, and sat on the deck. Larry enjoyed working in his shop, where he created many useful items and many quirky, not-so-useful objects.

Larry is survived by his wife, Sylvia of 47 years; four children, Ann Thomasson, Enderlin, ND, Kristen (Larry) Doerr, Buffalo Lake, MN, Larus Mark, The Philippines and Joan (Paul) Smithey, Lenexa, KS; 12 grandchildren, Joe Thomasson, James (Holly) Knutson, Karen Knutson, Ross (Karen) Doerr, Laura (Kevin) Ketcher, Heidi (Andy) Ulrich, Heather (John) Kelly, Larus (Haylee) Thomasson, Leah (Matthew) Halaseh, Valerie Smithey, Danielle Smithey, Thomas Smithey; 30 plus great-grandchildren; sisters, Lila Prigge (Glen), Grand Forks, ND, Dianne Steiner, Fairfax, VA; and brother-in-law, David (Linda) Jeffery, Eden Prairie, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Larus and Petrina Thomasson; infant daughter, Karen; father-in-law; mother-in-law; and brother-in-law, John Steiner.