SR1031 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1031 LRB096 24212 KXB 43656 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ralph S. Larson of Hinsdale, who passed away on October 7, 2010; and

WHEREAS, He was born July 30, 1926 in Brookings, South Dakota, the son of Walter S. and Isabella M. (Pigott) Larson; he grew up on a dairy farm with a round barn in rural Sycamore, attending Lovell's Crossing one-room school and Sycamore High School, graduating in 1944 with the nickname "Round Barn Larson"; and

WHEREAS, After a stint in the Army Air Corps in the waning days of World War II, he attended Northern Illinois State Teachers College (now Northern Illinois University); during his years at Northern, he found time to letter in track and serve as head kitchen boy in girls' dorm Williston Hall, where he met the love of his life, Norma Beuter; after graduation, they were married on August 19, 1950 in Chicago and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this summer; and

WHEREAS, He chose the classroom over the cows, working most of his 38-year career in the Hinsdale elementary school district; after teaching junior high woodshop, P.E., and serving as a counselor, he served as principal of Prospect Elementary and Hinsdale Junior High School for over 25 years; he retired in 1985 and moved to Lake Mills, Wisconsin, where he and his wife built their dream home on the shores of Rock Lake; and

WHEREAS, He was a faithful and involved member of Lake Mills United Methodist Church, serving in several leadership capacities; he was a key member of the Rotary Club, where he was designated a Paul Harris Fellow; he was a volunteer at Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital; and he was board president of the Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity; he enjoyed woodworking and reading, boat rides on the lake, grilling anything; and being a wonderful husband, father, Papa, and good neighbor to all; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, John Beuter; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Larson is survived by his wife, Norma; his sons, Jay (Mary Jo), Kent (Kathleen), and Ned (Elizabeth); his grandchildren, Camille (Rick), Ryan, Stephanie (Matt), Jimmy, Amanda, Isabel, Brian, and Peter; his great-grandchildren, Mia and Flynn; his brother, Raymond L. (Carol) Larson; his sisters-in-law, Nada (Gordon) Geddes and Jill Beuter; and numerous nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Ralph Larson; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ralph Larson as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.