Lawrence "Larry" Larson

Lawrence "Larry" Larson

Age 84, of Forest Lake, passed away quietly, stubbornly, and without fanfare on March 6, 2026 - in true Larry fashion - after a battle with bladder cancer. He was born on March 28, 1941 to parents Florence "Ole" Polski and Harold "Mickey" Larson. Survived by daughters Krista Larson and mara larson, sister Linda LaChapelle, and nephew Scott LaChapelle. Larry was loved by many, but particularly blessed with his best friend/cousin Ron Stein, and dear friends from Naytahwaush, MN where he spent several weeks each year fishing and hunting.

Larry grew up on a farm on Pig's Eye Island along the Mississippi River in St. Paul. His upbringing provided the kind of grit, resourcefulness, and love for the outdoors that shaped him for life. He dug earthworms and grubs from the manure pile to sell as fishing bait to sewage plant workers, ran a trap line catching muskrats and raccoons, and spent summers doing chores around the farm. In high school, Larry played football, competed in gymnastics, and worked part time at 3M. After a semester of college, he joined the U.S. Army where he served from 1961-1963, including 25 months overseas in Germany. When he returned home, Larry landed a job at 3M cutting tape, and then moved to the service department as a parts checker where he spent the rest of his career, retiring from the spin-off company Imation.

Larry was often a man of few words, but when he did speak, you listened. He was frugal, mechanically-inclined (he would say by necessity), fiercely loyal, and most at peace in the woods or on the water with a rifle or rod in hand. He loved fishing (particularly for crappies) and deer hunting. He would find back-handed silver linings; if the fish weren't biting, he'd say "at least I don't have to clean fish tonight". He was old school. When the newspaper hounded him to upgrade to a digital subscription, he emphatically told them he only wanted the kind of newspaper "you can wrap fish guts in".

He was a homebody. He kept things close to the chest. He loved delivering a perfectly-timed zinger. He was a straight-shooter. He meant everything he said. He lived life on his own terms. He was as authentic as they come, and he will be deeply missed. Rest easy.

A gathering for Larry will be held at 10:00am at Gethsemane Lutheran Church (2410 Stillwater Rd E, Maplewood) followed by a funeral service at 11:00am. Interment at Union Cemetery post-service. Memorials preferred to St Jude Children's Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html) or a charity of your choice.