Daniel Ove Larson, 64
Daniel Ove Larson, 64, born Nov. 11, 1942, to Ove and Florence Larson in Spokane, died at St. John's Lutheran Hospital in Libby on April 7, 2007, of cancer. He was the oldest of three children. Along with his sister, Barbara Irene, and his brother, Herbert Rodney, Dan lived in Libby, near Pioneer Park, and then in Troy.
He was an outstanding athlete and student leader at Troy High School, receiving honors such as the Danforth Award, Montana Boys' State delegate, and senior class president. Dan graduated in 1960 and was awarded a football scholarship to Whitworth College. After one year there, he transferred to the University of Montana. While majoring in forestry in Missoula, Dan was a member of the SAE fraternity, and received his degree from the University of Montana in 1965.
During his student days, Dan met and fell in love with fellow student, Kay Marie Baldwin, the head majorette for the Montana Grizzlies. They married on June 13, 1964.
Kay and Dan lived in Paramas, N.J., Atlanta, Denver, and Tacoma, Wash., as together they built his career in the wood products industry. Daniel worked for St. Regis Paper Company, then later Champion International, becoming production manager of the Champion complex in Libby in 1976, and general manager in 1988.
Dan held numerous positions in the community, including: president of the board of First National Bank of Montana, member of the St. John's Lutheran Hospital board, active leader with the area Chamber of Commerce, member of the Cabinet View Country Club board, and numerous positions in Christ Lutheran Church.
In 1996, Dan took over as owner and manager of Larson Lumber in Troy. He expanded his parents' strong business, Coffman Motors, and developed it further. Larson Lumber now serves the entire region of Lincoln County and northern Idaho.
Dan enjoyed his work, his friends, his grandchildren, his loving parents, and a good theological conversation.
He married his business partner, Bonnie Lynn Kittleson, of Troy, on March 10, 2007.
He is survived by wife, Bonnie Lynn Larson, of Troy; two daughters, Laurie Larson Caesar and her husband, Andrew Caesar, of Portland, and Marcia Annette Larson and her husband, Mark Larson, of Escondido, Calif.; three granddaughters, Sophie Anna Larson Caesar, Anna Hope Larson and Erin Nicole Larson; his parents, Ove and Florence Larson, of Troy; his sister, Barbara, and her husband, Frank Bain, of Turner, Ore.; his former wife of 42 years, Kay Larson, of Missoula; stepdaughters, Dawn Lynn Opland and husband, Tori, of Troy, Kristine Kittleson-Kurtzenacker and fiance, James, of Seattle; stepgrandchildren, Breanna and Sean Opland; many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews; and friends in the Libby and Troy communities and beyond.
He was preceded in death by his younger brother, Herb, who died of bone cancer in 1964 at the age of 14.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 13, at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby, followed by a reception at Memorial Center in the afternoon.