HOISINGTON — Harold Verle Larson, 87, died July 19, 2022, at Country Place Senior Living, in Hoisington. He was born Nov. 15, 1934, in Humboldt, Kan., to Hugo and Florence (Stark) Larson. Harold was the youngest of five children. He lived on a farm outside of Humboldt and then Chanute. He graduated from Vilas High School.
Harold met Wilma Tunnell at Colfax Church, a small country church outside of Chanute, Kan. They were married on Jan. 2, 1955. That summer, Harold and Wilma moved to Hoisington where Harold drove a truck for LD Niedens Trucking, a contractor for Kansas Brick and Tile. Harold would live the remainder of his life in Hoisington, where he and Wilma raised three children.
After hauling brick for Kansas Brick & Tile, Harold started working at Kansas Brick & Tile, where he become a supervisor in their shipping department. Although Harold enjoyed the brick plant, his good friend Dean Koelling and Dean’s son, Bill, offered him the opportunity to return to trucking. He took the H&K Trucking position, which led to other trucking jobs, including stints with Graves Truck Line, and WSKT. He remained in trucking until his retirement in 2000. During his trucking years, Harold met many life-long friends that have remained true, loyal and beloved to the day of his death.
Harold had numerous collections and hobbies. He collected barbed wire and competed in barbed wire splicing competitions. He was a rock hunter and collected rocks with his family all over Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado. Harold collected cameras and old light fixtures and lamps. His light fixture collection morphed into his “Lights of Yesteryear” business, and for years, he and Wilma would buy old lights, restore them, and sell or give them away. Unknown to many people, Harold had an artistic flair. He painted signs, and even stamped and carved bricks into interesting, fun and beautiful works. Harold, along with Wilma, also collected and restored antiques. Harold always thought his best collection, however, was his many friends. Regardless of the many items he collected, he managed to collect even more wonderful, dear friends. Harold did not slow down when he retired. He and Wilma travelled to all 50 states, almost always by car. Their passion was to visit as many of the national parks as possible, and they had a blast on the road to achieving this. Harold loved bird watching with Wilma and they were supporters and frequent visitors of the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. Harold loved spending time at the Cheyenne Bottoms and visiting other refuges. Although he was a fan of the Kansas Jayhawks, he was known to be just as enthusiastic about the Cardinals, Wildcats, Shockers and Tigers.
Harold loved his nieces and nephews and felt so blessed to remain close to many of them throughout his life. He enjoyed their visits, phone calls and cards, and frequently spoke of them. He also loved his grandchildren, Angela, Andy and Sarah, and was grateful for the time he was able to spend with them as young kids, teens and adults.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Wilma, his sisters, Delores (Bill) Altoff, Eleanor “Nels” Havens, Mildred “Mid” (Marion) Booe, and his brother, Lawrence “Bud” (Rosalie) Larson. Survivors include: sons Alan (Patty) Larson of Bixby, Okla., and Rodney Larson (Lois Schartz) of Liebenthal, Kan., and daughter, Anita Larson (Tom Arensberg) of Lawrence. He is also survived by grandchildren Angela Larson Morris of Portland, Oregon, Andrew Larson of Portland, Oregon, and Sarah Larson of Omaha, Neb.
A private memorial service will be held graveside. Memorials may be made to the Kansas Wetlands Educational Center in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, P.O. Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.
Notices may viewed and condolences sent at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home
P.O. Box 146
Hoisington, KS 67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, July 24, 2022
