Virgil LeRoy Larson, 84, of Garrison and formerly of Carrington, died Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center, Williston. His funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday, February 14, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Garrison. Rev. Dick Hendrickson will be officiating.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 9 to Noon at Thompson Funeral Home in Garrison and for 1 hour prior to services at the church.

Virgil was born December 7, 1929, to Walter and Anita (Lampert) Larson at Juanita, North Dakota. He was educated for six years at Campbell #3 School, Foster County. He and his family later moved to Carrington where he graduated from Carrington High School in 1948.

On November 16, 1952, Virgil was united in marriage to the love of his life, Norma Graham, at Carrington. The couple farmed in the Hawk's Nest area for two years before moving to Carrington where he drove truck for Clark Truck Line. He later worked as a farm laborer before moving with his family to California in 1957. Virgil worked as foreman for Pacific Tile in Paramount and at B&W Tile in Gardenia.

The Larsons returned to North Dakota in 1965. Virgil became an auto body repairman at Carrington Motor. He retired from Carrington Motor in 1992. His wife Norma died in 1996. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Garrison to live with his oldest son and his family.

Virgil was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Carrington, and attended St. Paul Lutheran Church, Garrison. He was a member of the Garrison Senior Citizens. He loved playing pinochle, gardening, traveling, fishing and visiting about the past. No one was a stranger to Virgil as he called everyone "pal." His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the treasures of his life.

Virgil is survived by his children: Mark (Patricia) Larson, Garrison; Leland (Hong) Larson, Brooklyn Park, Minn.; Kathy (Marvin) Fandrich, Aberdeen, S.D.; David (Eva) Larson, Norco, Calif.; and Joanna (LeRoy) Bettenhausen, Williston. He is also survived by eight granddaughters: Kendra and Andrea Larson, Jamie Larson (Jeremy Simpson), Jennifer and Kayley Larson, Shannon Fandrich (Josh Shoultz), Nicole (Jeff) Grosz, and Stacey Larson. Virgil also had two great-grandsons, Jace Simpson and Wesley Grosz. Additional survivors include his sister Colleen (Robert) Anderson, Mesa, AZ, brothers Ronald (Renee) Gettysburg, S.D., and Lyndon (Julie) Larson, Mesa, AZ. In addition, Virgil had many brothers- and sisters-in-law whom he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, stepmother, and brothers Carlton, Clifford and Thomas.