Obituary: Former NPC President Jerry Larson

Jerry Larson died Monday, Sept. 12, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Larson was a certified seed potato grower from Climax, Minnesota. Larson Farms is still in the certified potato seed business.

Larson was born March 6, 1944 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He grew up in rural Climax, Minnesota and graduated from Climax High School in 1962. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 23, 1965 and was discharged on June 22, 1967. Upon his return, he farmed potatoes with Merle Anderson and Joe Larson at Larson Farms.

Besides farming, Larson was a leader in the potato industry both locally and nationally. He was chairman of the Red River Valley Potato Growers Association (now NPPGA) in 1976-1977. He was also president of the National Potato Council in 1984.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years Carole of Climax, Minnesota, three sons, Nathan (Michelle) Lindgren of Moorhead, Minnesota, Daniel (Renae) Lindgren of Argyle, Minnesota, and Benjamin (Tonya) Larson of Winston Salem, North Caorlina,11 grandchildren, one great granddaughter, brother, Darrel (Kate) Larson of Grand Forks, sister Dianne (Paul) Brokke of Bozeman, Montana and nieces, nephews and cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, at Climax Lutheran Church in Climax, Minnesota. Visitation will be held one hour before service.

Sources: Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, Dahl Funeral Home