Funeral Services For Lois Larson

Funeral services for Lois Larson, age 85 of Tilden, Nebraska, will be held Friday, April 24, at 10:30 a.m. at Peace United Church of Christ in Tilden. Rev. Theta Dame will officiate with burial in the Tilden City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Brockhaus-Harlan Funeral Home in Tilden.

She died Tuesday April 21, 2015, at Heritage of Bel Air in Norfolk, Nebraska.

Lois was welcomed into this world on July 23, 1929, by her parents, Ernest and Olga Ritter, and big sister, Darlene. The bond between the Ritter sisters ran deep and it meant sharing many adventures, memories, and stories throughout their lifetimes.

Lois attended Bunker Hill and graduated from Tilden High School. She obtained her teaching certificate and taught school in the Meadow Grove and Tilden school systems. Lifelong learning was important to Lois, and she loved hearing about the education her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren sought.

On June 16, 1951, she married Glen Larson. The couple made their home on a dairy farm west of Tilden, where she kept the corporation’s books, fed calves, and helped out in the fields. Glen and Lois were blessed with three children, Paul, John, and Linda. Life on the dairy meant a lot of hard work but it also meant a lot of time together as a family. Glen and Lois made time to take the kids water skiing and on vacation to the Black Hills. Darlene and Lois also shared many sister trips, exploring Nebraska.

From 1948 to 1994, Lois dedicated her Sundays (and many other days) to being the Peace United Church of Christ’s organist. She was a long time officer of Peace Women’s Fellowship. Lois’s faith was important to her, her Bible was never far from her side. Together, Lois and Glen enjoyed playing pitch and square dancing. Lois was a voracious reader, she especially loved mysteries. She also enjoyed playing bridge. She was, however, a hapless Cootie and Hungry Hungry Hippo Player.

Life was not always easy, nor fair. In less than a year’s time, Lois was diagnosed with cancer, and lost her husband and sister to the disease. She refused to take the easy road and would not succumb to bitterness, fear, or even anger; instead radiating a quiet strength.

Visitors, be they family or friends, would always find a sympathetic ear, sound advice, and warm hands for holding or helping. Her door was always open and she loved encouraging people to “take your hat off and stay awhile.” Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in particular knew to check the candy dishes for sweet treats and the freezer for brownies or molasses cookies.

Family was the center of her life. She loved hearing about everything and anything they were involved in. “How’s life?” was a common question and she was sincerely interested in the answer. Lois attended marching band contests, concerts, county fairs, baseball, t-ball, volleyball, football games, speech home shows, cross country meets, and church programs. She watched what she couldn’t attend via video or over the internet. Even when grandchildren were far away, she kept in contact with nearly weekly emails and loved seeing pictures they shared with her.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Glen; sister, Darlene; parents, Ernest and Olga; and a host of Ritter cousins.

Lois is survived by her children, Paul (Diann) and John (Terry) Larson of Tilden, and Linda (Charles) Spiekermann of Redondo Beach, California; grandchildren, Chad (Jolene), Trevor (Tracy), Meghan (Marshal), Danielle, and Abby Larson, and Kevin Spiekermann; and great-grandchildren, Christopher, Jayson, Conner, Ian, Joslynn, Pavan, and Cara Larson.

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