Betty Arlene (Burge) Larsen passed away on the evening of her 81st birthday, September 27, 2016, at the North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais. She had visited with many loved ones that day, celebrating with ice cream cake, flowers, Facebook messages and cards.
Born to parents Freda (Stelter) and William Burge in Weyauwega, Wisconsin, Betty was the fifth child in a family of seven. In the mid 1940s the Burge family moved from Wisconsin to a farm in Warba, Minnesota. Betty considered Warba her hometown until moving to Grand Marais in 1959. There she met the love of her life, Lloyd C. Larsen and they were married on May 7, 1960. Fifty-six years later, on her 81st birthday, she confided that “I wish I had met Lloyd sooner.” Their love story lives on, and continues to inspire everyone who knew them.
Besides her love of family, Betty enjoyed gardening, baking, playing the piano, celebrating holidays and hosting family cookouts. She also enjoyed camping and fishing at one of the family’s favorite inland lakes. Betty served as a Bluebird troop leader and baked many birthday cakes for residents at the Care Center. She volunteered for the Violence Prevention Center, and for the Senior Center. For many years she worked as an executive secretary/payroll clerk at the North Shore Hospital.
Throughout her life, Betty was very active in the Congregational Church. Her faith in God was her source of strength, along with her love of people.
Betty was the mother of three children, as well as a second mother to countless others. Said her niece Sandy Burge, “I think it’s important for kids to have an adult other than their parents who tells you that you matter, and spends time with you, and just loves you for who you are. Betty was that for me, my siblings, my cousins, and all their kids and grandkids. She had an infinite capacity to love.”
Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Lloyd Larsen; adopted son Daniel; her parents Freda and William Burge; three sisters Faye (Burge) Palmer, Lila (Burge) Garner, Carol (Burge) Hagdon and older brother George Burge; her niece Susan Burge and nephews Mark Burge and Brian Hagdon.
Betty is survived by her loving daughter Cindy Carol (Craig Neimi) and cherished granddaughter Andrea Lynn Larsen of Grand Marais; son Lawrence (Faith) Larsen of Batavia, New York; grandchildren Kevin, Michelle (Daniel) Dowell and Janelle Larsen; sister Joyce (Francis) Drouillard; brother Ray (Marion) Burge and many nieces, nephews, friends and people who she considered her extended family.
A celebration of Betty’s life will be held at the First Congregational Church in Grand Marais on Saturday, October 8 at 11:30 a.m. Burial is at Maple Hill Cemetery.
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