Susan Carol Larson

Sue Larson, 77, of Fargo, ND, died Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester, MN.

Susan Carol Albright was born on December 26, 1936 to Bill and Doris (Peterson) Albright at her great-uncle, Dr. Otto’s, home in Frazee, MN.

The first four years of her life were spent on Lake Crystal where her father owned the Crystal-Lida Store. In 1940, the family moved to Crookston, MN, where Sue attended grade school and was graduated from Crookston Central High School in 1954. Sue loved school through all levels, and teaching was the only profession she considered. She attended Moorhead State Teacher’s College (now MSUM) and was graduated with a Bachelors Degree in elementary education in 1958.

On August 10, 1958, Sue married Phil Larson at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Crookston, MN. She began teaching second grade at Lewis and Clark Elementary School in Fargo. They both taught in Glendive, MT for two years. Upon returning to Fargo, Sue spent one year at Hawthorne Elementary and then left teaching for several years after starting their family.

Before their children, Rick and Ann, entered school, Sue worked part-time in the Children’s Room at the Fargo Public Library, where she started the Story Hour Program.

After returning to teaching, in all twenty years were spent in the classroom. Most of them were at Lewis and Clark, where she enjoyed working with first graders until her retirement in 1999.
Phil and Sue were fortunate to have been able to travel to Europe four times as deans of students with the Peace Garden Music Camp and the Ambassador of Music summer concert tours. They also traveled to Scandinavia with a group of students from the four Fargo high schools. This led to their taking three additional trips to Norway and Austria on their own.

The first five winters after retirement were spent in Mesa, AZ. Sue was a member of FRT (Fargo Retired Teachers) and CCARTA (Cass County Area Retired Teachers Association). Phil and Sue celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary just last year. Her family, church, and friends were cherished by Sue.

Sue is survived by her husband, Phil; mother, Doris Albright; son, Rick (Izzie) Larson; daughter, Ann (Steve) Larson-Sanders; grandchildren, Benly, Daniel, Justin, Stephanie; great-granddaughter, Amilya; brothers, Daniel Albright, Robert (Joyce) Albright; sister, Karen (Dave) Bang; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, William.

Memorials may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Fargo.