LAURETTA MAE (BEARD) LARSEN was born October 6, 1923, in rural Decatur, Nebraska, the daughter of Clarence “Fred” and Kate (McRary) Beard. She passed away Saturday, October 6, 2007, at the Oakland Mercy Hospital in Oakland, Nebraska, at the age of 84 years.

Lauretta attended country school at Hill Top and Elm Creek Schools. She graduated from Decatur High School in 1940. She attended Wayne State College, where she received her teaching certificate. Lauretta taught in the rural schools of Divide Center, Edgington and Bacon.

On July 15, 1944, Lauretta married Kenneth L. Larsen at Decatur. Two children were born to this union: Larry Louis and LeAnn Mae.

Lauretta was baptized into the R.L.D.S. Church in Decatur at an early age. She later joined the Trinity Lutheran Church in Decatur, where she served as Sunday School Superintendent for 26 years – while also teaching the junior and preteen classes of the Sunday and Bible Schools. Lauretta was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Ladies Aid and served as secretary for several years. She was a member of the Blackbird Ladies Aid for over 50 years and was also a member and served as director of the Nebraska Pollette organization.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister: Bonnie Kate, who died in infancy; two brothers: George and Ken Beard.

Survivors include her husband: Kenneth; son and daughter-in-law: Larry and Janice; daughter and son-in-law: LeAnn and Paul Richards all of Decatur; two brothers and sisters-in-law: Leonard “Hinnie” and Fran Beard of Lyons, Bill Beard of Rockford, Illinois, Kay Smilie of Loveland, Colorado;  five grandsons and their spouses: Rodney and Stephenie Larsen of Omaha, Nebraska,Keven and Pam Larsen of Lincoln, Nebraska, Jason and Linda Richards of Omaha, Justin and Billie Jo “BJ” Richards, Joshua and Skye Richards all of Onawa, Iowa; three great granddaughters and seven great grandsons; several nieces and nephews, many cousins and a host of friends.
Lauretta M. Larsen

FUNERAL SERVICE:  Tuesday, October 9, 2007, 10:30 a.m., at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Walthill, Nebraska.

BURIAL:  Hillcrest Cemetery, Decatur, NE

VISITATION:  Monday, October 8, 2007, from 1 – 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6 -8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Lyons, Nebraska. Visitation will also be held Tuesday at the church one hour prior to the service.

MEMORIALS:  Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, P.O. Box 5007, Minot, ND  58702