Mederith John Larson
July 28, 1915 – January 31, 2005
Med "M. J." Larson was born July 28, 1915, the first of five children to Edwin and Mary (Watterberg) Larson, homesteaders in Big Bend Township, Mountrail County, North Dakota. He attended Sanish High School and graduated from Plaza High School in 1934. He attended North Dakota Agricultural College before entering the Army in 1936 in Vancouver, Washington. In October 1938, he went home on a 60 day furlough where he had a short courtship with Harriet Bangen—a lifelong friend and neighbor—and they were married on November 29, 1938 in Tacoma, Washington.
During World War II, Med served in the initial assault landings of Okinawa and the Philippines, 1944-1945. He is a veteran of the Korean War serving with the Korean Military Advisory Group from 1950-1953. He holds the Silver Star, Bronze Service Medal with "V" pendant, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal and the ROK Presidential Unit Citation. Med was stationed in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Japan and Hawaii. He retired as a Major from the Army in February 1957 after 21 years of service.
He and his family returned to Washington and settled in Vancouver, where all four of his children graduated from Battle Ground High School. He began a career with Aetna Life and Casualty Company, and retired in August 1977 after working as a claims adjuster for 21 years. He was a golfer and an accomplished bowler.
After retirement, Med led a busy and dynamic life. He was actively involved in Brush Prairie Baptist Church, a member for more than forty years. He loved to watch his grandchildren play in their various athletic events. From soccer, football, basketball, Little League baseball, softball, cross country and track, Med thoroughly enjoyed the competitions. He traveled regularly to visit family in Pennsylvania, Idaho, California, and North Dakota. Through it all, though, his favorite place to be was always at home. Year round, he kept busy maintaining the Brush Prairie Family Farm by cutting grass, planting corn, checking the mole traps, feeding the animals and working in a game of golf now and then.
He saw all ten of his grandchildren graduate from college or finish a professional training program, and got to hold all twelve of his great-grandchildren when they were babies. He was an avid TV sports fan, rooted for the Mariners and Seahawks, and wrote emails every night to his family detailing the day's adventures and outcomes. He prayed every night for his children and their spouses and their families. He was never too busy to talk to, and always had a smile for everyone he met.
Med's health declined the last few years—"mini-strokes," heart trouble and diabetes. While those problems slowed him down, he still managed to stay active and travel. While visiting their granddaughter in Fort Myers, Florida, Harriet and Med both came down with bad colds. The day before they were to return home to Washington, Med slipped peacefully away in his sleep and instead went home to be with his Lord.
July 28, 1915 – January 31, 2005
Med "M. J." Larson was born July 28, 1915, the first of five children to Edwin and Mary (Watterberg) Larson, homesteaders in Big Bend Township, Mountrail County, North Dakota. He attended Sanish High School and graduated from Plaza High School in 1934. He attended North Dakota Agricultural College before entering the Army in 1936 in Vancouver, Washington. In October 1938, he went home on a 60 day furlough where he had a short courtship with Harriet Bangen—a lifelong friend and neighbor—and they were married on November 29, 1938 in Tacoma, Washington.
During World War II, Med served in the initial assault landings of Okinawa and the Philippines, 1944-1945. He is a veteran of the Korean War serving with the Korean Military Advisory Group from 1950-1953. He holds the Silver Star, Bronze Service Medal with "V" pendant, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal and the ROK Presidential Unit Citation. Med was stationed in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Japan and Hawaii. He retired as a Major from the Army in February 1957 after 21 years of service.
He and his family returned to Washington and settled in Vancouver, where all four of his children graduated from Battle Ground High School. He began a career with Aetna Life and Casualty Company, and retired in August 1977 after working as a claims adjuster for 21 years. He was a golfer and an accomplished bowler.
After retirement, Med led a busy and dynamic life. He was actively involved in Brush Prairie Baptist Church, a member for more than forty years. He loved to watch his grandchildren play in their various athletic events. From soccer, football, basketball, Little League baseball, softball, cross country and track, Med thoroughly enjoyed the competitions. He traveled regularly to visit family in Pennsylvania, Idaho, California, and North Dakota. Through it all, though, his favorite place to be was always at home. Year round, he kept busy maintaining the Brush Prairie Family Farm by cutting grass, planting corn, checking the mole traps, feeding the animals and working in a game of golf now and then.
He saw all ten of his grandchildren graduate from college or finish a professional training program, and got to hold all twelve of his great-grandchildren when they were babies. He was an avid TV sports fan, rooted for the Mariners and Seahawks, and wrote emails every night to his family detailing the day's adventures and outcomes. He prayed every night for his children and their spouses and their families. He was never too busy to talk to, and always had a smile for everyone he met.
Med's health declined the last few years—"mini-strokes," heart trouble and diabetes. While those problems slowed him down, he still managed to stay active and travel. While visiting their granddaughter in Fort Myers, Florida, Harriet and Med both came down with bad colds. The day before they were to return home to Washington, Med slipped peacefully away in his sleep and instead went home to be with his Lord.
Mederith John Larson
July 28, 1915 – January 31, 2005
Med "M. J." Larson was born July 28, 1915, the first of five children to Edwin and Mary (Watterberg) Larson, homesteaders in Big Bend Township, Mountrail County, North Dakota. He attended Sanish High School and graduated from Plaza High School in 1934. He attended North Dakota Agricultural College before entering the Army in 1936 in Vancouver, Washington. In October 1938, he went home on a 60 day furlough where he had a short courtship with Harriet Bangen—a lifelong friend and neighbor—and they were married on November 29, 1938 in Tacoma, Washington.
During World War II, Med served in the initial assault landings of Okinawa and the Philippines, 1944-1945. He is a veteran of the Korean War serving with the Korean Military Advisory Group from 1950-1953. He holds the Silver Star, Bronze Service Medal with "V" pendant, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal and the ROK Presidential Unit Citation. Med was stationed in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Japan and Hawaii. He retired as a Major from the Army in February 1957 after 21 years of service.
He and his family returned to Washington and settled in Vancouver, where all four of his children graduated from Battle Ground High School. He began a career with Aetna Life and Casualty Company, and retired in August 1977 after working as a claims adjuster for 21 years. He was a golfer and an accomplished bowler.
After retirement, Med led a busy and dynamic life. He was actively involved in Brush Prairie Baptist Church, a member for more than forty years. He loved to watch his grandchildren play in their various athletic events. From soccer, football, basketball, Little League baseball, softball, cross country and track, Med thoroughly enjoyed the competitions. He traveled regularly to visit family in Pennsylvania, Idaho, California, and North Dakota. Through it all, though, his favorite place to be was always at home. Year round, he kept busy maintaining the Brush Prairie Family Farm by cutting grass, planting corn, checking the mole traps, feeding the animals and working in a game of golf now and then.
He saw all ten of his grandchildren graduate from college or finish a professional training program, and got to hold all twelve of his great-grandchildren when they were babies. He was an avid TV sports fan, rooted for the Mariners and Seahawks, and wrote emails every night to his family detailing the day's adventures and outcomes. He prayed every night for his children and their spouses and their families. He was never too busy to talk to, and always had a smile for everyone he met.
Med's health declined the last few years—"mini-strokes," heart trouble and diabetes. While those problems slowed him down, he still managed to stay active and travel. While visiting their granddaughter in Fort Myers, Florida, Harriet and Med both came down with bad colds. The day before they were to return home to Washington, Med slipped peacefully away in his sleep and instead went home to be with his Lord.
July 28, 1915 – January 31, 2005
Med "M. J." Larson was born July 28, 1915, the first of five children to Edwin and Mary (Watterberg) Larson, homesteaders in Big Bend Township, Mountrail County, North Dakota. He attended Sanish High School and graduated from Plaza High School in 1934. He attended North Dakota Agricultural College before entering the Army in 1936 in Vancouver, Washington. In October 1938, he went home on a 60 day furlough where he had a short courtship with Harriet Bangen—a lifelong friend and neighbor—and they were married on November 29, 1938 in Tacoma, Washington.
During World War II, Med served in the initial assault landings of Okinawa and the Philippines, 1944-1945. He is a veteran of the Korean War serving with the Korean Military Advisory Group from 1950-1953. He holds the Silver Star, Bronze Service Medal with "V" pendant, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal and the ROK Presidential Unit Citation. Med was stationed in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Japan and Hawaii. He retired as a Major from the Army in February 1957 after 21 years of service.
He and his family returned to Washington and settled in Vancouver, where all four of his children graduated from Battle Ground High School. He began a career with Aetna Life and Casualty Company, and retired in August 1977 after working as a claims adjuster for 21 years. He was a golfer and an accomplished bowler.
After retirement, Med led a busy and dynamic life. He was actively involved in Brush Prairie Baptist Church, a member for more than forty years. He loved to watch his grandchildren play in their various athletic events. From soccer, football, basketball, Little League baseball, softball, cross country and track, Med thoroughly enjoyed the competitions. He traveled regularly to visit family in Pennsylvania, Idaho, California, and North Dakota. Through it all, though, his favorite place to be was always at home. Year round, he kept busy maintaining the Brush Prairie Family Farm by cutting grass, planting corn, checking the mole traps, feeding the animals and working in a game of golf now and then.
He saw all ten of his grandchildren graduate from college or finish a professional training program, and got to hold all twelve of his great-grandchildren when they were babies. He was an avid TV sports fan, rooted for the Mariners and Seahawks, and wrote emails every night to his family detailing the day's adventures and outcomes. He prayed every night for his children and their spouses and their families. He was never too busy to talk to, and always had a smile for everyone he met.
Med's health declined the last few years—"mini-strokes," heart trouble and diabetes. While those problems slowed him down, he still managed to stay active and travel. While visiting their granddaughter in Fort Myers, Florida, Harriet and Med both came down with bad colds. The day before they were to return home to Washington, Med slipped peacefully away in his sleep and instead went home to be with his Lord.
