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Carolyn Jean Larson

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Carolyn Jean O’Rourke Larson, born December 12, 1942, decided she’d had enough of this earthly nonsense and passed away peacefully on April 30, 2025, surrounded by love, laughter, and probably at least one misplaced pair of reading glasses.

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Carolyn lived her 82-plus years with wit, grit, and a healthy skepticism of what the government is up to these days.   She was a master of long stories, warm hugs, well-timed sarcasm, and saying “I told you so” without ever having to say it.

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Carolyn was born in Chicago, IL, where she attended parochial schools (yes, nuns taught her) until she entered high school and attended Oak Lawn High in Oak Lawn, Illinois. She graduated at 17, a year ahead of most kids her age because her parents wanted her to graduate with her girl cousins of the same age.

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In 1962, Carolyn moved her family to Hollywood, California. While living and working in Hollywood, Carolyn volunteered for a cavalry group, many of whom were leading actors from Western shows during the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Carolyn stayed busy sneaking into the Hollywood Bowl for free music, staking out where Elvis lived in Beverly Hills, being a background audience for famous musicians, and traveling the coast with her dear friends and family.

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In 1965, her family made a road trip to Big Bear, CA, where she met the love of her life, Gary Larson, a Marine Corps sergeant stationed at Twenty-Nine Palms. Carolyn and Gary were married at Wee Kirk O’ the Heather in Glendale, California, in February 1967, when Gary returned from Vietnam.

Gary and Carolyn moved to Bloomington, Minnesota, where Gary grew up, and in 1968, they moved to their permanent home in Burnsville, MN.   Carolyn worked at multiple companies, from AAA (10+ years) to Valley Middle School in the Library (20+ years), and finally, working with Gary in his business for the last 10+ years until she retired.

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During that period, Carolyn and Gary had two children, Joshua and Amanda, and she remained busy with them by volunteering at sports, church, schools, field trips, and more.

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Carolyn and Gary fell in love with camping and their RV friends, the Roven Rogues, who became like family. Every couple of years, they graduated to new rigs as they went from tents, pop-up campers, Class A, Class C, and finally, the BIG BUS. They were always known for their creative cars behind them, from the 1972 VW Convertible Karmann Ghia, Land Rover, Jaguar, and finally, the two-seater Mercedes. 

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Carolyn and Gary were heavily involved in the Church of the Risen Savior, Catholic Church, where they taught catechism class, volunteered, and finally did a bible study where their bible study group became fast friends and continued for over 20+ years.

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Carolyn and Gary loved to travel across the US in their motorhome and on cruises to the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Ireland, Iceland, France, Poland, and finally, Lithuania. They were always up for an adventure.

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In the late 1990s, Carolyn and Gary became snowbirds. With homes in Desert Hot Springs, CA, and Burnsville, MN, they spent ½ of their time in one place or the other for over 25+ years. 

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Carolyn and Gary loved their family, but they also loved animals, starting with their first dog, Shep, Cinderella, and Daisy, and then moving on to cats Beau, Moses, Vito, Dutchess, and finally Pooh.

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Carolyn loved her children and considered her son-in-law, Timothy (Amanda), and her daughter-in-law, Anna (Josh), to be her children too – but her grandchildren were so extra special from James, Ari, Eric, Amelia, and Alyssa – she loved talking to them, seeing them, and enjoyed spending time with them.   

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Carolyn never met a stranger she couldn't turn into a friend—or at least, a captive audience for one of her stories. She deeply loved books, PBS, anything English or Irish, and anything from Brit Box– she could tell you many stories and details throughout the day. 

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She leaves behind her son Joshua (Anna) Larson, Amanda (Timothy) Swanson, and her grandchildren James, Ari, Eric, Amelia and Alyssa.   Her sisters, Susan (Jim) Cain and Peggy (Stan) Boroskin, plus many other family and friends. She is reunited in the hereafter with her husband of 50+ years, Gary Larson, and her mother and father (Frank and Mary O'Rourke).

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Carolyn would want you to remember her with laughter, a good meal, a friendly story (repeated many times),  and a warm hug. 

 

Carolyn's funeral will be Thursday, June 19, at 11 a.m., at Church of the Risen Savior, 1501 East County Road 42, Burnsville, MN 55306. A luncheon will be held after the service at the church.

 

Carolyn's internment will be with Gary at Ft. Snelling Cemetery at a later date.  

 

She was one of a kind. And we’ll miss her like crazy.

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