Norma L. Larson

Norma Lea (Kirkpatrick) Larson Age 100 Norma died on January 9, 2024. She celebrated her 100th birthday with family just six weeks prior. Norma was born on November 23, 1923 at home in Oakland , Minnesota. Her parents were William and Hattie (Lea) Kirkpatrick. Her older brother was Robert and younger sister was Marjorie. Oakland was a small prairie town and her father was a rural mail carrier. Norma had ambitions of becoming an interior designer, but in accordance with the times, her father counseled her to study business clerical work. She did, and while employed at Bigelow Carpets in Minneapolis, Norma met her future husband on a double date. The man Norma met was Lester (Les) Larson, recently returned from the service in WWII, and studying at the University of Minnesota to become a veterinarian. Norma was in for a life of homemaking, child rearing and marriage to a large animal veterinarian. Together they settled on the east side of Madison, WI and raised three children. When Les retired, he and Norma moved to live in the house on the farm where Les grew up. It was difficult for Norma to leave her friends and church in Madison, but it was an opportunity to create the interior design of her new home, and as well, develop the flowering perennial gardens around their renovated Norwegian log house. Norma and Les were active at the North New Hope Lutheran Church near their home; they cared for ailing siblings, and thoroughly enjoyed hosting visiting friends and family. Five grandchildren loved to visit Grandma Norma and Grandpa Les. In her later years, with her husband no longer by her side, Norma began the brave journey of moving from her farm house to an apartment in Stevens Point, and eventually to a senior care center. Childhood memories, best friends from Madison, her children and grandchildren, and her great grandson, Woods, never lost clarity and fondness in her mind and conversations. Other people were tucked away in her heart, but could no longer be called to mind with substantial clarity. Norma was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister and brother. She is survived by her daughters Susan (Thomas) Nykl, Charlene (Brian Gibbs) Larson and by her son Paul (Julie) Larson. As well, she is survived by five grandchildren: Scott (Kate House) Nykl, Sam (Kimberly) Larson, Elise (Moses Azubuike) Larson, Erik Nykl, and Kristin (Matt) Paulson and one great grandson, Woods Paulson. A memorial service is planned for 11:00 (visitation 10:00) June 29, 2024 at North New Hope Lutheran Church, Amherst Junction, WI. Her ashes will be buried next to those of her husband in the North New Hope Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin-- North New Hope Lutheran Church Endowment Scholarship Fund, 2801 Hoover Road Unit 1B, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481.