Merton O. Larson, 87, of Garner died Friday (June 27, 2008) at the Concord Care Center in Garner.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Tuesday at Faith Lutheran Church in Miller with Rose Visser, lay minister, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City with military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Cataldo Funeral Home in Garner is in charge of arrangements.

Merton Orlando Larson, the son of Martin and Anna (Sorenson) Larson, was born June 6, 1921 at Decorah. He attended a country school near Decorah and graduated from high school at Lone Rock. Merton served his country in the U.S. Army Air Force being stationed in Italy during WW II where he received three Bronze Stars. He was a veteran of 56 combat missions. On September 13, 1944 he married Beverly Gale Hallman at Blue Earth, MN. After the military service they lived in Lone Rock where he worked in a grocery store. Merton later received linotype training in Charles City and then worked for Stoyles Printing Company in Mason City for over 30 years. Following his retirement, they moved to Lakeland, FL and later, Garner. He enjoyed wood crafting, carving, and fishing trips to Canada.

He was a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Mason City and the Garner VFW and American Legion.

Merton is survived by his wife, Beverly, of Garner; daughter, Julie (Doug) Cox of Garner; sons, Craig A. (Colleen) Larson of Brighton, MI and Mark Larson of Merritt Island, FL; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; a brother, Leon (Rose Marie) Larson of Rochester, MN; a sister, Arlene Thompson of Decorah; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Lloyd Larson, Selmer (Florence) Larson, Gladys (Everett) Gavel, Esther (Byron) Kruse, Arthur (Ivanell) Larson, his twin brother who died in infancy, Myrtle (Arthur) Priebe, Ella (Norris) Otteson, Violet (Charles) Ramsey, Madeline (Raymond) Priebe; and a brother-in-law, Ray Thompson.

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