Mary Marie Larson

Mary Marie Acker Larson, age 89, of Freeport, IL passed peacefully in her home surrounded by family following a brief illness with stomach cancer on May 16, 2014. Mary was born September 28, 1924 to George Thomas and Dorothy (Sage) Acker in Grandmother Acker's home on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in Dupree, SD. She and her family survived the Great Depression, many droughts, blizzards, and insect plagues. Mary graduated in 1942 from Eagle Butte High School, SD, in a class of 32. Her passions included: declamation (speech), class plays, band (trumpet), cheerleading and 4-H activities where she received many honors. After graduation she moved to Minneapolis, MN, graduated from Dunwoody Institute, and worked rewinding motors for General Motors. During WWII she met Martin Renard (Renny) Larson, Jr. (a Seabee in the Navy) at a Union Victory Girls dance. They were married April 25, 1944 during a five day pass following Renny's overseas duty. While stationed in Port Davis, RI Mary worked at Westinghouse and in Port Hueneme, CA she worked in a lemon factory and did inventory on the Navy base. Oh the stories they could tell. After Renny's tour of duty they moved back to Minneapolis. They always dreamed of owning lake property which they purchased in 1948 on Lake Union near South Haven, MN. They built three cabins and ran a small resort during the summers until 1956 when they moved to Kenyon, MN where they owned and operated the Bowlitorium Bar & Grill for 13 years. In 1969, they moved to Freeport, IL where they owned and operated Basten Beverage for five years. For the past 17 years, the cabin was her "weed free" summer home and a special family get-a-way with the 4th of July being a traditional family gathering. She was a member of the Kenyon VFW, the Elks and Moose Auxiliaries, Freeport's Historical Society, Art Museum, and Civic Garden Club and was a faithful winter member of Grace Episcopal Church in Freeport, IL and a summer member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Annandale, MN. She loved to support her growing family, play cards, bowl and travel. Together they traveled to all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and later Mary traveled to the Mediterranean, Brazil and the Holy Land. She showed pride in her Sioux heritage by giving a variety of presentations regarding life on a reservation, Native American rituals, and showing her ancestral artifacts. She was a true Lakota Woman in her loving and caring ways to family and friends. To Mary, a friend was only someone she hadn't yet met. She was dearly loved and will be profoundly missed by her children: Donna (Dennis) Kersten, Dysart, IA; Susan (Gary) Nelson, St. Charles, MN; Scott (Nancy)Larson, Freeport, IL; Tom (Laurie) Larson, Las Vegas, NV; 11 grandchildren and their spouses; 20 great grandchildren who call her Unci (grandma in Lakota), nephew Alan Helm, niece Connie Helm and 3 great nephews, and good friend Krys Larson. Mary was preceded in death by her mother, father, husband, sister Peggy, and sister-in-law Eleanor. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 24 at 11:00 at Grace Episcopal Church, 10 South Cherry Avenue, Freeport, IL. A celebration and sharing of memories will be held after the service in the undercroft of the church. Interment will be held at a later date in MN. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Grace Episcopal Church, or the charity of your choice.