Roy LARSON

May 22, 1929 - September 22, 2025

Spokane - Roy Herbert Larson, born May 22, 1929, to Roy Oscar Herbert Larson and Dorothy Ellingwood Larson in Butte, MT, passed away peacefully, September 22, 2025, at his home in Spokane, WA. In early childhood, Roy lived in Cerro de Pasco, Peru, for four years. He moved back to Hamilton, MT, and then to Spokane, where he attended Roosevelt Grade School and Lewis & Clark High School. He attended the University of Washington, Seattle and Eastern Washington College (now university). During WWII, he worked summers at the Naval Supply Depot at Velox (now Spokane Industrial Park) and a wheat ranch in Genessee, ID. He met his wife, Donna, when he was a patient at Sacred Heart Hospital, where Donna was a student nurse. They married in 1952 and had two children, Kass and Kent.

Roy worked at Barton Oldsmobile for more than 50 years where he was co-owner and finance manager. Buying, selling and trading cars was a favorite pastime of his. Roy's role at Barton's put him in a unique position to see and buy cars that interested him. The driveway at home was like a revolving used car lot. 100's of scale model cars line the shelves of his man cave and a car magazine was always next to his favorite chair.

Always civic minded, Roy was a member of several professional organizations including Spokane New Car Dealers Association, Spokane Jaycees, and Spokane Retail Credit Assn.

Roy began skiing at Mt. Spokane in 1945 on the single rope tow available at the time. He was very involved with ski patrol, and he and Donna started the Prime Timer's ski group. In 1955, he and Donna bought a lot on Priest Lake where they and their two sons built their own cabin with little help. Roy said, "It's not square or level, but the windows and doors open just fine." He spent most of his leisure time skiing and enjoying their Priest Lake cabin. He and Donna had boundless energy for fun together. They had many adventures with their two boys, hosted countless people at their lake house, and always brought fun to any gathering. Roy's talent, curiosity, and tenacity rubbed off on everyone who knew him.

He joined a valued set of friends at Muv Fitness, kept his sense of humor, loved practical jokes, and graced us with a wonderful smile to the end.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters – Beverly Clute and Kaaren Pewett. His survivors include his wife, Donna of 73 years; two sons, Kass (Kathryn) of Sagle, ID and Kent (Julia Goltz) of Spokane; two grandchildren, Wyeth Larson and Ramsey Larson; two step-grandchildren, Gabriel DeAnda and James DeAnda; and five great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life and reception will be held at Manito Country Club on October 10, 2025, at 11am. Interment will be at a later date in Hamilton, MT.