Raymond Edwin Larson

Raymond Edwin Larson, 82, of Garretson passed away on January 24, 2023. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM Monday, January 30, 2023, at Zion Lutheran Church in Garretson. Interment will be at Norway Cemetery, Garretson, South Dakota. Visitation will be from 2-5:00 PM Sunday, at Zion Lutheran Church.

Raymond (Ray) was born on May 31, 1940 at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls to Eddie and Margret (Gardner) Larson. He grew up on the family farm west of Garretson and graduated from Garretson High School in 1958. Following high school, he worked for the Sioux Falls Stockyards and later for Armor and Company as their head hog buyer. With that job, he met the love of his life Yvonne (Goodenbour) in Worthington, MN. They spent many nights dancing. Shortly after, Ray decided to “pop the question” to Yvonne and her son Doug. Ray and Yvonne were married on December 18, 1965. They moved to St. Paul, MN where Ray continued to buy cattle for Armor and stayed there for 2 years. While there, a baby boy named Rich was born. They then decided to move back to Garretson where Ray took over the family farm from Eddie. While farming, Ray purchased Larson Trucking Company, and the tag line “You call, we haul” was born. While on the family farm, Ray ran a trucking business, grew corn, hay, and milked cows for 20 years. He also had two more sons, Jeff and Dave. Farming, although very rewarding, had its challenges. First the barn burned down, then the house burned down. Following that fire, Ray decided to pick up and move to town in Garretson. He then got a job selling cars and trucks at Billion motors in Sioux Falls, where he was salesman of the month many times. 5 years before retirement, he went to work at LAW Motors in Sioux Falls selling cars and trucks alongside his son, Rich. At this job, he coined the phrase “Just be Nice”. Ray loved to entertain people, so following retirement, he started another business, Ray’s Variety Show. He toured many nursing homes in the tri-state area entertaining many people and bringing joy to their lives.

Ray had many hobbies in his 82 years of life. Traveling, singing karaoke until 1 or 2 in the morning, dancing until dawn, and just plain having fun with friends and family.

Ray is survived by his wife of 57 years, Yvonne, Garretson; children: Doug (Mona) of Sioux Falls; Rich (Laura) of Hartford; Jeff (Jessica) of Omaha; and Dave Larson of Garretson; two sisters: Ruby (Bob) Schroeder of Hutchinson, MN; Rosella Gilbertson of Denver, CO; 6 grandchildren: Brian (Melody) Zwak, Mike (Andrea) Larson, Danny (Marianne) Larson, Tyler Larson, William Larson, Kayleigh Larson; 7 great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret; father, Eddie; mother in law, Lena Goodenbour; father in law, Alvin Goodenbour, and granddaughter, Heather Peterson.