Obituary of Iris Larson

Iris Mae Larson, 85, of Cambridge passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, November 9, 2014 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West. She was born on March 15, 1929 in Duluth, Minnesota to Henning and Goodvue (Jerstad) Peterson. Iris grew up in Duluth where she attended school and graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1947. She went on to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth and graduated in 1951 with a degree in teaching. Iris spent one year teaching music in Anchorage, Alaska before returning to Duluth. While Iris was in college she met Gerald Larson and on June 29, 1952 the couple was married in Duluth. They would make their home in Cambridge where Gerald was beginning his doctor's practice with Ray Magnuson. Iris was very helpful with the practice, working wherever she was needed. Iris and Gerry raised their three children Scott, Jeffrey and Stephanie . Iris loved being a mother and enjoyed living in and raising their kids in Cambridge. After retiring, Iris and Gerry spent winters in Florida, but were always home for Christmas to be with family. They spent much of their summers at the cabin on Sand Lake. They both loved to travel and went on many trips all over the world. Jerry passed away in 1998. Iris would continue to live in the house, spending much time at Sand Lake in the summers, and would travel to Florida in the winters until 2011. As her health declined, she more recently was residing at GracePointe Crossing Gables West. Iris was a longtime active member of the Cambridge Lutheran Church where she volunteered in several areas, sang in the church choir. She loved singing and also sang with the East Central Chorale, Minnesota Chorale, and the Prime Time Singers. Iris was a member of the American Medical Association Auxiliary where she also served as president, traveling to every county in Minnesota promoting the Auxiliary. She volunteered at the Cambridge Medical Center Gift Shop. Iris loved to fly and worked on getting her pilot's license, she was one flight short of getting that accomplished. She liked to golf, go downhill skiing, swimming and running. She especially loved entertaining friends and family. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gerald, son Jeffrey in 2013, brother Jack Peterson, sisters Joyce Olson and Mary Weld. Iris is survived by son Scott and wife Nancy Larson of Cambridge, daughter Stephanie and husband Ed Stec of Wyomng, MN, eight grandchildren Emily Graham, Heidi Lietha, Molly Grell, Matthew Stec, Timothy Stec, Andy Stec, Tobie Stec and Hannah Stec, three great grandchildren Reese and Carter Lietha, and Greta Graham, sister-in-law Penny Peterson of Florida, brother-in-law Jerry Weld of Minnetonka, as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.