Richard O. Larson, age 79, of rural White, died Friday, March 16, 2012, at Brookview Manor in Brookings. Memorial services will be 11:00 A.M. Monday, March 19, 2012, at the Brookings Wesleyan Church. Visitations will be from 5-7 P.M. Sunday at Eidsness Funeral Chapel in White. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be directed to the McCrossan Boys Ranch or Fairview Cemetery at White. Richard Odell Larson was born May 20, 1932, on a farm near Clear Lake, South Dakota, to Samuel and Julia (Grimlie) Larson. He struck out on his own at the age of 14, working for uncles in the Astoria and Toronto area. He joined the carnival when it came to Clear Lake and spent two summers on the road. He then became a farmhand in the Castlewood area where he met his wife, Joyce Heemeyer. They married on June 12, 1952, and started farming west of Castlewood. They moved west of Bruce in 1959 and farmed there until 1962 when they bought their present farm which Richard called the L-Cedar Ranch. Richard spent his life raising Limousin cattle and horses. His passion was his cattle herd and driving his teams of horses. He spent many hours restoring buggies and making and repairing harnesses and tack. His greatest joy was spending time with his children and grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, Joyce, of White; three children: Russell (Jill) Larson of White, Virginia (Jim) Heesch of Flandreau, and David (Kim) Larson of Ft. Pierre; a daughter-in-law, Deanna Larson, of Russell, Minnesota; eight grandchildren: Michael Larson, Jeremy Larson, Jeffrey Larson, Jennifer Everding, Cade Larson, Martee Larson, Michelle Heesch, and Melissa Heesch; five great-grandchildren; two brothers: Harold (Pat) Larson of Castle Rock, Washington, and Robert (Bev) Larson of Elkton; and two sisters: Lynda (Lum) Peterson of Brookings, and Donna (Gilbert) Renteria of Bayard, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by a son, Steven R. Larson; a sister, Sylvia Byers; and his parents, Samuel Larson and Julia Grimlie Larson Arnsdorf.