Mavis Larson

Mavis Lorraine Larson 92, formally of Granger, passed away Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at Arbor House Assisted Living in Yakima. Mavis was born August 1, 1921, in Summit, South Dakota. She was the 6th child of eleven children born to Albert and Amanda Krause. At an early age she milked cows on the family farm and attended a rural school where she had to walk 1 1/2 miles to attend. In 1938, she left her home and married Ahlert "Red" Larson who was also from Summit. They were married in Missoula, MT, where Ahlert was shearing sheep at the time. She traveled with Ahlert and cooked for the shearing crew, finally settling in Granger. They eventually had three children. When the children were older she picked fruits and vegetables. She later worked in different warehouses. In 1957, she was offered a job with Yakima Bait Company in Granger where she worked as a shipping clerk for 29 1/2 years before retiring. In the 29 1/2 years she only missed 1/2 day of work due to a doctor's appointment. Mavis loved to dance and you could count on Ahlert and Mavis being at the local dance hall on Saturday nights. She loved gardening and tended to a beautiful rose garden. Mavis also loved to travel and was able to visit Europe, Australia and cruise through the Panama Canal. She was a long time member of the Granger Lion's Club and was the Grand Marshall of the 2008 Cherry Festival Parade in Granger. She loved to fish and hunt. After the death of her husband in 1992, she continued fish and to hunt elk with her son, Darold. She didn't put her rifle away until she was 89 years old. Mavis was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ahlert; son, Delbert Larson; granddaughter, Darla Napora; four sisters and three brothers. She is survived by her daughter, Shirley Pearce (Robert) of Wilsonville, OR and son, Darold Larson (Laura) of Yakima; sisters, Arlene Larson of Summit, SD and Joann Boelkes of Clark, SD and brother, Harold Krause of Pemberton, NJ; grandchildren, Elizabeth Neketin (David) of Gresham, OR; Gerald Pearce (Mollie) of Aloha, OR; Heather Jasso of Spokane; Jennifer Mitchell of North Bend; Kevin Larson of Las Vegas, NV and Lindsay Larson (David Angulo) of Sammamish; five great grandchildren and four great, great-grandchildren. Visitation and viewing will be from 2-5 pm at Valley Hills Funeral Home in Zillah on Sunday July 6, 2014. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 7 at 11 am at Valley Hills Funeral home located at 2600 Business Lane in Terrace Heights. A reception will follow at Christ Lutheran Church located at 56th Ave and Lincoln Ave in Yakima. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Christ Lutheran Fellowship Hall. Valley Hills Funeral Home in Yakima is in care of the arrangements. Online tributes may be shared for Mavis at www.valleyhillsfh.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mavis Larson, please visit our flower store.