Lowell L. Larson, 67
Lowell L. Larson, 67, of Effort, Pa., formerly of Audubon, Minn., died Monday, Aug. 27, 2007, in Farmington, Minn. Lowell was born on Aug. 16, 1940, to Everett and LaVanche (Nybladh) Larson in Grand Forks, N.D. He grew up on the family farm and was educated in Alvarado, Minn.
Lowell married Cheryl Reno in 1964, in Glyndon, Minn. They had two sons through this union, Scott and Steve. They moved to Missoula where Lowell worked for various trucking companies. Lowell's sons spent many summers on the road with their dad, sharing in the many adventures of trucking across the nation. He later moved to Pennsylvania where he met his best friend and companion, Evie Gehricke. Lowell worked for Gemini Traffic Sales Inc. of Edison, N.J., as a truck driver at the time of his death.
Lowell's trucking career took him many interesting directions. During the almost 50 years he managed to drive through the lower 48 states, Alaska, and most of Canada. From the pipeline in Alaska, logs in Montana, fuel in New York City, pharmaceuticals or produce to anywhere, or almost anything else on an almost endless list, he always took pride in his work.
He had an uncanny ability for remembering directions. It seemed no matter where his sons (including Todd Brown) were at in the country, they could always call Dad and get help finding a place to deliver a load. And with that, they would normally get directions to a great gourmet hotdog, homemade biscuit, or meatball sandwich.
Lowell had a gift of getting to know and remembering people he met in life. And those that were lucky enough to meet him never forgot him either. His friends numbered in the thousands. If you gave him the name of a town he almost always could come up with the name of someone that he knew there, and how he met them. At the top of his list of friends were Jack, Lorraine, Todd and Tim Brown of Perham, Minn. He had a permanent place in their family.
Lowell lived his life to the fullest. He enjoyed fishing, cooking, especially barbecuing and doing things around the house. The time he enjoyed most was the time spent with his grandson, Colton; his great grandson, Aydon; and granddaughter, Teia Frable.
Lowell was preceded in death by his father, Everett Larson; one sister, Lori Gillespie; and a grandson, Colton Larson.
He is survived by his long time companion and best friend, Evie Gehricke of Effort, Pa.; two sons, Scott Larson and Steve Larson; great-grandson, Aydon Larson, all of Kalispell; two stepdaughters, Annette and Brian Frable and Julie DeLong; step-granddaughter, Teia Frable, all of Kunkletown, Pa.; his mother, LaVanche Larson of Detroit Lakes, Minn.; six brothers, Dale and Arlene Larson of Moorhead, Minn., Ronald Larson of Chicago, Byron and Machiko Larson of Duluth, Minn., Mark and Kathy Larson of Oregon, Wis., Kim Larson of Fargo, N.D., Jay and Mary Larson of Kindred, N.D.; two sisters, Cathy and Dean Sunram of Audubon, Jill and Bob Timm of Starbuck, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services and visitation were held on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at West-Kjos Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for the Lowell's family. You are invited to go to www.johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Lowell's guest book.