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Mary Lois (Goble) Larson, who celebrated her 82nd birthday December 7, died of complications from COPD at the University of Minnesota Medical Center on Dec. 21, 2011. Mary Lois was stubbornly determined not to give up her fight for recovery and planned to return to Ecumen Parmly LifePointes, Chisago City, MN, where she had recently begun a physical therapy program.

Mary Lois lived winters in Fort Myers, FL, and in Shell Lake, WI in summer months. She loved visiting the Lindstrom, MN area where she and her husband, Harry T. Larson raised their family. Mary Lois owned and operated a laundromat/dry cleaner business in Lindstrom, serving the Chisago Lakes area for many years. Mary Lois was known for cooking excellent meals; her sons' friends often would turn up at the Larson's house just before dinner. Mary Lois always made plenty of food for others and was known for her full refrigerator. Mary Lois graciously opened her home to her children's friends, and a few teenage friends actually lived with the Larsons for years. Mary Lois was a good listener for teenagers and adults alike, and had a remarkable gift of dispensing common sense advice. She was a dog lover who spoiled herpets with her home-cooking too.

After high school in Columbia City, IN, Mary Lois graduated from Indiana University and became an elementary teacher in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She did some substitute teaching in Lindstrom for a short time. Mary Lois was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Lindstrom where she served in Dorcas Circle, and taught Sunday School. She never failed to answer Pastor John Blackford's plea for home baked treats for youth groups. She had a hard time saying, "No". Mrs. Larson was a 60 year member of the Columbia City Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Mary Lois will be remembered for her easy, endless laughter; her ability and zest for talking to everyone, everywhere she went and for her love of life.

Harry T. Larson preceded Mary Lois in death in 1997. Parents, Lois M. Goble and Ford H. Goble, sisters Janet Walker and Barbara Dimitry also preceded her in death.

She is survived by daughter Margot Weyandt and husband Paul J. of Parkville, MO (grandsons Noah and Nathan); son Jeffrey P. Larson and wife, Rocio of Fairfield, AR (granddaughter Marianna); son Michael S. Larson and wife Cynthia of Blaine, MN (granddaughter Danielle); son Eric D. Larson and wife Lori of Eden Prairie, MN (grandchildren Drew, Taylor, Abigail, Spenser, Samuel, and Thomas). Also surviving is her brother Willis R. Goble Sr. and wife, Mary of Columbia City, IN.

Visitation Tuesday, December 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Grandstrand Funeral Home, 11900 Lake Lane North, Lindstrom, MN. Funeral Services at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 28 at the First United Methodist Church, 30828 Irene Ave., Lindstrom, MN 55045. Additional visitation will take place at the First United Methodist Church one hour prior to funeral services. Condolences may be left online at www.grand strandfh.com

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