Cover photo for Pastor Larson's Obituary
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1949 Pastor 2014

Pastor Larson

May 22, 1949 — December 20, 2014

Pastor Ronnie James Larson went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 20th, 2014. Ronnie was born into a family of six children. Ronnie and Bonnie were born twins, the youngest of the family on May 22, 1949. Ron enjoyed wonderful & supportive friendships with all his brothers and sisters: John, Dennis, Patrica, Bryan and Bonnie.

Early on in Ron's life, he sensed the call to ministry as a Pastor. Growing up in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Ron's childhood included many memories of fishing, gardening, farming, canning with his mom, working at the bowling alley as a teen and developing deep friendships with his siblings. Ron's parents, Kenneth and Mildred Larson were foster parents and it was through their hospitality and generosity that Ron developed his love for people.

Ron set out to Grand Rapids Michigan to attend seminary. While in Michigan he met and married Barbara Bird, August, 1971. Barb died the same year.

After Ron finished at Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, he then went on to marry Irene Roberta Kinsey on November 2nd, 1974. Ron and Irene moved to Laona WI and Ron worked at the Conner's Furniture Factory. Within a year Ron and Irene began their Pastoral Ministry in Superior, WI. It was there they welcomed with great joy, daughters Rebecka and Bonnie. They were also loving foster parents to several children. It was while serving in Superior that Ron and Irene provided a home for a toddler, Danielle Larson. She lived with them for several years. In 1977 Ron and Irene began pastoring at Bethel Baptist Church in Baraboo WI. While in Baraboo Ron cultivated his farming skills (due to his wife's love for animals). He built barns, fences, milked goats, cows and raised chickens, etc. In Baraboo, the family grew to include two more daughters, Jerusha and Cherie. During a short sabbatical from ministry, Ron and Irene ran Timberline Restaruant in Lakewood WI. While attending Northwoods Bible Church they welcomed a long awaited son, Benjamin. Ron and Irene then continued with ministry interim pastoring at Maple Grove Church in Tipler WI.

The call was heard to Montello WI to pastor a country church, Buffalo Community Bible Church. Montello would prove to be a homestead for the Larson family for years. It was in Montello that Fletcher was born, the completion of Ron's yearly Christmas wish for "six good kids". Ron worked at Comfort Inn and Comfort Inn & Suites for an approx. 17 years. Ron also pioneered with his sister Bonnie, a Christmas wreath business. They worked together in the wreath business for over 20 years. Because of the Larson's love for world missions, they decided to send their children to Prairie Bible College in Alberta Canada, a renowned missions school. An international family was soon to follow when Rebecka married Felipe Cervantes from Mexico in 1994, and Bonnie married Sjoerd Feenstra of the Netherlands in 1995. In 1997 Ron and Irene began their ministry at Poynette Bible Church. In the spring of 2000, Ron and Irene enjoyed the presence of a Canadian son in-law, Daniel Sparling. Jerusha married a representative from America, Nathan Smith, that same year.

2002 was marked by the tragic death of Irene in auto mobile accident. Following that year, Ron's son in law Felipe passed away. Ron moved back to Montello to continue in ministry at Buffalo Community Bible Church with his sons, Benjamin and Fletcher. Ron, Benjamin and Fletcher enjoyed their bachelorhood together by spending time with family, ministering, gardening, travelling internationally, fishing, antiquing & other hobbies.

In 2004, Ron was overjoyed to attend Rebecka & Alex Martinez' wedding in Mexico. Benjamin would add to the international family when he married Clarisse Jhen of the Phillipines in April 2014. He had the joy of attending his first grandchild's wedding in August.

For years Ron had been battling with Diabetes and other related complications. November 2014 he suffered cardiac arrest but was resuscitated. While in rehab at the Montello Care Center Ron passed away peacefully. He is survived by his six children, four son in laws, one daughter in law, and seventeen grandchildren.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Mildred (Wilkenson) Larson, wives, Barbara (Bird) Larson, Irene (Kinsey) Larson, mother in law, Agnes J. (Andersen) Strickler, Father in laws, Glenn Kinsey, Jack Ewald, Jack Strickler. Also, brother Bryan Larson (Jeannine), brother in laws, Mark Shampo (Bonnie), Paul Schultz (Bonnie), Frank Shephard Sr., (Patrica) and James Kinsey and son in law, Felipe Cervantes (Rebecka). A funeral service for Ron will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. at the Buffalo Community Bible Church, W4090 14th Road, Montello. The family will receive friends and relatives from 8:30 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. Pastor Randy Prahl will preside and burial will follow the service at North Marcellon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred in memory of Ron to Fletcher Larson or cards may be mailed to the family in c/o Crawford Funeral and Cremation Service, P.O. Box 248, Montello, WI 53949.

Crawford Funeral and Cremation Service of Montello and Oxford is Honored to be serving the family. www.CrawfordFH.com

Previous Events

Visitation
Saturday, December 27, 2014
8:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Buffalo Community Bible Church

14th Road and County Road F
Montello, WI 53949

Funeral Service
Saturday, December 27, 2014
11:30 AM
Buffalo Community Bible Church

14th Road and County Road F
Montello, WI 53949

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