Janet D. Larson

Janet D. Larson, 94, of Red Wing, MN died Wednesday, August 12, 2020, at Preferred Senior Living in Ellsworth, WI. She was born June 2, 1926, in Minneapolis, to Sverre and Hilda (Olson) Dalland and grew up as the only girl among three brothers. She graduated from Minneapolis South High School in 1943 and attended St. Olaf College and then Fairview School of Nursing, graduating as an RN in 1947. Her career as a nurse started out in the air, where she worked as a stewardess and flight nurse. It was during her stint at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis, where she met and cared for her future husband, Vernon Larson. The two were married on August 21, 1954. While Vernon served in the US Army, Janet also worked in the Army Nurse Corps during the war and was very proud of her service with them. Vernon became a school principal and his work took them to LeRoy and later Inver Grove Heights, before moving to Red Wing in 1968. While in Red Wing, she worked as a nurse at the Seminary Home and RW Health Center. Janet was very social and she loved attending school functions with Vernon, especially when she got to dress up for the high school proms. Together, the two shared a love of world traveling and were both involved in the Sons of Norway and the Swedish Singers. Vernon died in 1998. Janet continued to stay active in the community, volunteering at the food shelf, Red Cross blood drives and the women's circles at First Lutheran Church where she was a member. She had a great love of music and enjoyed attending the Big-Nine High School choral competitions while her daughters were in school. She kept her mind sharp by working the daily crossword puzzle and watching Jeopardy, her body and spirit in check with a dose of sunshine here and there, and was happy to find a companionship with her friend, Don Johnson. Janet was a very kind and loving woman. She was a great sister, wife, mother and grandmother, who loved visiting her daughters and being with family, especially her grandchildren, who added a special sparkle to her life.
She is survived by her daughters, Julie (James) Espeland of Henning, MN and Anne Kolsky of Red Wing; grandchildren, Kaeli (Randy) Dorn, Kaari (Jason) Speer and Jessica and Hannah Kolsky; great-grandchildren, Cooper, Tenley, Emersyn, Reddek and Sutton and a brother, John Dalland of Mpls. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon of 44 years; companion, Donald Johnson of 16 years and 2 brothers, Carl and Harold Dalland.
Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, August 18, 2020 at the Simonet Funeral Home in Stillwater with Revs. Arthur Sharot & Sandy Hasselblad officiating. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Fairview Cemetery in Stillwater. Arrangements handled by Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com

---

Visitation

AUG 18. 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (CST)

Simonet Funeral Home
6429 Osgood Ave. North
Stillwater, MN 55082

Funeral Service

AUG 18. 1:00 PM (CST)

Simonet Funeral Home
6429 Osgood Ave. North
Stillwater, MN 55082