DR. WM. E. LARSEN, FORMER CHURCH HEAD, DIED AT MINNEAPOLIS

DIED AT MINNEAPOLIS AUGUST 4th AFTER MONTH’S ILLNESS

Dr. William E. Larsen,, executive director of the Board of Theological Education of the American Lutheran Church, died last Wednesday, August 4th at Minneapolis after a month’s illness. He was a former Blair resident and one-time head of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church.

While in Blair, Dr. Larsen and his family lived at the corner of 23rd and Washington streets. He was President of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1956 to 1960 when that body joined with other groups in a merger which formed the American Lutheran Church. From 1960 to 1966 Dr. Larsen was secretary of the ALC and from 1966 to 1968 he was vice president.

A native of Racine county, Wisconsin, Dr. Larsen was graduated from Dana College in 1933 and from Trinity Lutheran Seminary (which was then in Blair) in 1936, at which time he was ordained. He continued post-graduate studies at Boston University which awarded him a Master of Arts degree, and also at Harvard University and the University of Minnesota. He also received an honorary doctorate from Wartburg Theological Seminary at Dubuque, Iowa in 1957.

Dr. Larsen, who was 62 years of age, is survived by his wife, Inga, a son, William Jr., of Houston, Texas and two daughters, Nancy who is at home and Mrs. Gary Hansen (Ellen) of Seattle.

Memorial services were held at Bethel Lutheran Church in Minneapolis Sunday and burial was made in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.