Nancy Larson

(From Lawson's Funeral Home)

Nancy Louise (Boden) Larson joined her beloved husband in heaven, Sunday, October 16, 2022 in Grove, Oklahoma surrounded by her four children. She was born on April 11, 1934 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to her parents, John Peter Boden and Ruth Marian Ellsworth-Boden. 

After high school in Milwaukee, she worked briefly at Fanny Farmer’s Candy as a counter girl. She became pen-pals with a serviceman as her part to support our troops. This pen-pal would come through Milwaukee on his way to visit his parents. 

While there he peeked through the candy store window and decided she was pretty cute. This is how Nancy met her future husband, Jim Larson. Nancy said that although they wrote daily, they had only eight real dates which included meeting the families before they became engaged. Their marriage lasted 66 years. 

During her husband’s 20 years of service in the Air Force, she served as main caregiver to their children and hostess of the various parties required of officer’s wives. Upon her husband’s retirement from the Air Force, the family moved to Grove, Oklahoma. 

Always active in the Catholic Church, they joined St. Elizabeth Parish in 1971 and remained members until their deaths. Nancy served as song leader, lector, and officer of the Altar Society. In addition she made the floral arrangements for the altar for many years. 

It was in Grove that Nancy and Jim started a new career when they bought and operated Green Brier Resort for more than twenty years. Nancy kept the books and organized the annual picnics that made the residents feel like family. This resulted in two and three generations of families calling Green Brier their second homes. 

It was during this time that Nancy served in the Grand Lake Association and organized many of the fundraising activities that resulted in it acquiring its first building. Nancy and Jim then moved to their haven Hickory Creek Ranch where they stayed active running cattle and entertaining at their cabin at the creek. It was then that Nancy began volunteering at Grove Integris Hospital. She remained active in this regard through her seventies. She also volunteered at the Christian Mission Thrift Store. She was a member of several bridge clubs and when she hosted, there was no detail left undone. 

Nancy and Jim, traveled all over Europe and the Caribbean many times filling their sense of adventure. Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, James Marlin Larson; her parents, John and Ruth Boden; great-granddaughter, Natalie Jennings; sister, Kathleen Regenfelder; father and mother-in-law, John and Alma Larson; brother-in law, Carl Regenfelder; sister-in-law, Shirley Dooher; son-in-law, Michael Ellis. Nancy is survived by her four children, John Larson and wife Sharon of Auburn, Alabama; Kathy Daigle and husband Joel of Grove, Oklahoma; Tina Jennings and husband William of Iowa City, Iowa, Mary Ellis of Joplin, Missouri; Grandchildren Eric, Sarah, Kelsey, John, Andrew, Julie, Martin, Maureen, and Joseph; Great-grandchildren, Ruth, Jackson, Joseph, Samuel, William, Jackson, Nathaniel, Margaret, Vivienne, Elizabeth, Lorelai, and John as well as numerous nieces and nephews that remember her dry humor and her fabulous hostess and baking skills.

Nancy’s Mass of Christian Memorial Celebration will be held on Saturday, 1:00pm, November 5, 2022 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 1653 113th St., Grove, OK 74344. Followed by Nancy’s memorial burial at Hickory Grove Cemetery, Grove, OK.

The Larson family ask in lieu of flowers you may send memorial donations in memory of Nancy Louise (Boden) Larson to the charity of choice. APDAparkinson.org or you can mail to: APDA/P.O. Box 3113, Broken Arrow, OK 74013 or Phoenix Health Care, Attn: Phoenix Rehab

1021 Charles Page Blvd., Tulsa, OK 74127, memo: Grove Therapy or St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 1653 113th St. NW, Grove, OK 74344.

Arrangements are entrusted to Lawson’s Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, 722 N. 46th St., Grove, OK 74344 with Shaunda J. Lawson, 3rd Generation Owner/Funeral Director and Staff.