Burthon "Burt" R. Larson

Funeral Services for Burthon R. Larson will be conducted from Trinity Lutheran Church in Axtell, Nebraska on Monday, May 10, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend David Sites, officiating. Interment will be held at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Axtell with military honors provided by the Axtell Veterans Organization in conjunction with the United States Army National Guard Honors Team.

Burthon Raymond Larson, 90 years of age, of Kearney, Nebraska (formerly of Holdrege and Axtell), passed away on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Burthon was born on December 12, 1919 on the family farm south of Axtell in Kearney County, Nebraska, the youngest of three children of Carl Victor and Hulda Christine (Hagge) Larson. He was baptized in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Axtell. Burt spoke only Swedish upon entering grade school. He received his education from Axtell Public School, graduating from Axtell High School with the class of 1937. While in school, Burt participated in sports, lettering in baseball for four years and in basketball for three years and served as captain of both teams his senior year. He was also voted the best liked boy his senior year.

Following his education, Burt was the assistant cashier at the Farmers and Merchants Bank in Axtell. He then enlisted into the United States Army Air Corps on January 27, 1942. Burt served his country during WW II overseas for three of his four years prior to his return to the United States on August 12, 1945. On September 2, 1945, Burt was united in marriage to Ruth G. Schrock. He received his honorable discharge on October 30, 1945. Burt and Ruth were blessed with three children: Mary Ann, Teresa and Dudley. They made their home on the Larson family farm south of Axtell for thirty years. They moved to Holdrege in 1969, where Burt sold farm and industrial machinery. In March of 2007, Burt and Ruth moved to Kearney to be near family. The couple were devoted to each other for 63 years of marriage. Ruth preceded in him death on June 23, 2009.

Burt was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Axtell, Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, and the V.F.W. and Lions Club in Axtell. His hobbies included raising and showing quarter horses. He also enjoyed raising Australian Shepherds, coaching girls softball, was a 4-H leader, judging 4-H horses and model quarter horses. Burt and Ruth also enjoyed square dancing and playing Somerset. He was an avid Nebraska sports fan. Most of all, Burt loved the time spent with his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and old and new friends. He will be remembered for his generosity, kind and fun loving spirit.

He leaves to mourn his passing; daughter, Teresa Murray and her husband, Max of Kearney, son, Dudley Larson and his wife, Sally of Lawrence, Kansas; three grandchildren: Chadd Murray and his wife, Dawn of Kearney, Angela Philbrick and her husband, Trent of Gering, Nebraska, and Brett Larson and his fiancé, Danielle Fredrick of Hebron, Nebraska; seven great-grandchildren: Austin, Nathan, Colin, Justin and Joslyn Murray and Taylor and Lauren Philbrick; sister, Ruth Dyke of Lincoln, Nebraska; sisters-in-law: Eileen Schrock of Holdrege and Helen Hendricks of David City, Nebraska; longtime family friend, Elund "Swede" Swedburg of Axtell; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Ann Larson at nine months of age; one brother, Roy Larson; two sisters-in-law: Patty Leff and her husband, Charles and Violet Morrison and her husband, Forrest; four brothers-in-law: Truman Schrock in infancy, Sam Schrock Jr., Harlan Hendricks, and Robert Dyke.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 9, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Axtell.

A memorial has been established in his memory and kindly suggested to the Trinity Lutheran Church in Axtell, the Kearney Area Make-A-Wish Foundation or donor's choice.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements.