Funeral services were held on Tuesday for Henry M. Larson, area pioneer who lived here 84 years. Larson died of the infirmities of old age at Kingsbury Manor on Sunday afternoon. Burial was in the North Preston Cemetery.

Henry M. Larson, son of Syvert and Kathinka Larson, was born in Fillmore Co., MN, on November 3, 1869. He spent his first 11 years in Minnesota, coming with his parents and family to South Dakota in the spring of 1881. They homesteaded in the North Preston community. As a young man he was instructed and confirmed in the North Preston congregation. He farmed with his brother until 1901 when his parents moved to Lake Preston. At that time he took over operation of his parents' farm.

He was married to Bertha Sevalstad on June 16, 1908. They retired from the farm in 1919, and after spending a year in California, they moved to Lake Preston. Mrs. Larson died in 1922. Larson was active in church affairs all his life. While a member of North Preston Lutheran congregation, he was instrumental in organizing the Sunday School and was its superintendent for many years. He also served in the congregation in other capacities. While living in Lake Preston, he was a member of the Lake Preston Lutheran congregation and had served as both trustee and deacon.

He was one of the original directors of the Community State Bank in Lake Preston, serving about 38 years until his resignation a little more than two years ago. During recent years he was active in the establishment of Kingsbury Manor, retirement home for the elderly. Larson was one of the original financial backers whose large contributions formed the financial nucleus around which the manor fund drive was built, and he was the first resident in the retirement home. Larson is survived by a number of nieces and nephews.