Charles "Chuck" N. Larson, 86, of Volga, formerly of Sinai, died surrounded by his family on Sunday, February 7, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 13, 2016, at Sinai Lutheran Church in Sinai, with interment and military graveside rites at the East Sinai Lutheran Cemetery. Visitations will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings.

Charles Norwood Larson was born September 3, 1929, the son of Norman and Annie Larson in Arlington, South Dakota. Charles and his siblings grew up on the Centennial Farm (established in 1888), enjoying the pleasures, privileges, and occasional hardships of a rural lifestyle. He benefitted from the close community, with strong ties to his faith, family and friends. Always one for adventure, Charles could often be found with his clarinet below the train trestle on the family farm. Taking the railroad track home from Sinai School, he would patiently wait to hear the rumble of the trains overhead before finding his way back to the house. However, he skipped hearing the train the day that electricity was being brought to the house by the Rural Electrification Association.

Charles followed his dream of becoming a bookkeeper by studying at SDSU, where he played in the marching band. He then transferred to Nettleton Business College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Upon graduation in bookkeeping, he was employed at Brende Electric as a bookkeeper prior to enlisting in the Unites States Air Force as an electrician from January of 1951 through December of 1954.

Charles returned home from his Air Force training in Bellevue, Illinois to marry his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Dolores Langum of Sinai, on October 28, 1951 at Sinai Lutheran Church. Upon completion of his Air Force training to serve in the Korean Conflict, they journeyed together to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and welcomed their first child, Sharlene Kaye, into the world. Their tour took them to Casablanca, Africa, where their second child, Kathie Sue, as her father always called her, was born.

Shortly after their return to Sinai, Dolores and Charles welcomed Jane Elizabeth, their third child, into the family. When his father, Norman, died suddenly at an early age due to a heart attack, Charles understood what loyalty and commitment to the Larson family farm meant, and took over the farm. In 1962, the Larson family became complete when Tom Charles was born in Brookings. Today, Tom and his family live on the Centennial Farm and continue to operate it.

Charles performed various roles in the Sinai American Legion Post #133, including Commander, for a number of years. He also served as Board Director and Secretary of REA, a position he held for 32 years. Charles served as a Trustee at Sinai Lutheran Church and chaired the East Side Cemetery Board for numerous years. Charles and Dolores spent 64 amazing years together, farming, enjoying each other's company, serving their community, and caring for their children and their families. They enjoyed travelling together to other states for musical entertainment and pleasure. Family events were of utmost priority, and their 10 grandchildren could always count on their attendance at high school and college graduations, confirmations, baptisms, and weddings. Each Larson grandchild believes "they are the most important" to their grandparents. All of the Larsons have learned what "family" means through the everyday commitment of their father and mother—a legacy they hope to carry on.

Charles is survived by his wife, Dolores, of Volga; his four children—Sherry (Tom) DeBoer of Brookings; Kathie (her late husband Glen) Aasheim of Lakeside, Mont.; Jane (Al) Perry of Bruce; and Tom (Sharon) Larson of Sinai; his grandchildren—Nick (Maryam) DeBoer, Heather (Tom) MacPherson, Adrienne (Scott) Fox, Tiffany (Stuie) Lewis, Lars Phillips, Allison (Jesse) Saathoff, Kaitlin Phillips, Hannah Phillips, Matt Larson, and Michael Larson; and his great-grandchildren—Flora and Rupert MacPherson, Bruce Lewis, and Becca Saathoff; along with many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Norman and Anna Larson, and his siblings, Thomas Larson, Genevieve Sunde, and Doris Sunde.