James "Jim" Arden Larson

Graveside services for James "Jim" Larson of Graceville, formerly of Chokio will be held Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Artichoke Lake Cemetery, rural Chokio. Following the service a Fellowship Memorial Gathering will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alberta. 

James Arden Larson was born in Appleton, MN on December 10, 1946 to Harvey and Anne Larson. He grew up with his two sisters on their farm on Artichoke Lake in Big Stone County. At the age of 11, his family moved to their new home in Synnes Township, Stevens County. He graduated from Alberta High School in 1964. He then attended vocational school in Willmar, where he studied drafting and design. After school he worked for UNIVAC for five years. He went on to serve for two years in the United States Army. After leaving the service in 1973, he joined his father in running the family farm.

On November 1, 1975, he was joined in marriage to Jaqueline Wachter. They lived on the family farm and raised three daughters, Carrie, Sarah, and Kristin. During those years he served on the board of Agralite for 29 years, on the Church Council at Trinity Lutheran in Alberta, and as a director at Tri-County Co-op in Chokio. He was also a founding member of Sav-A-Lake and East Side Park at Artichoke Lake.

On July 21, 2002, he lost his wife of 26 years to cancer. In 2003, he welcomed the birth of his first grandchild, Chloe. In 2004, he met his friend Gloria Serocki who would become his loving companion for the rest of his life. She and Jim spent many happy years at her home in South Dakota. They enjoyed camping, touring the Southwest, and spending time with their many grandchildren from both families.

Jim died on Monday, December 16, 2024 at Essentia Health in Fargo, North Dakota. He was 78 years old.

Jim is survived by his daughters, Sarah Larson (Kenny Perkins) of Morris, MN and Kristin (John) Nosbusch of Barry, MN along with Gloria’s children Greg (Michele) Serocki of Rogersville, MO, Pam (Mike) Werdel of St. Lawrence, SD, Staci Ecker of Fargo, ND, and Jeff (Jill) Serocki of Bozeman, MT; sister, Karen (Paul) Berge; nieces, Lisa McCarthy and Lori (Rob) Lindberg; nephews, Aaron (Patty) McCarthy, John Berge, and Mike Berge; grandchildren, Chloe Marlow, Holly Nosbusch, and Malcolm Nosbusch, as well as Gloria’s grandchildren, Brett (Jessica) Serocki, Dylan Michels, Abigail (Brenden) Michels, MacKenzie Michels, Whitney (Thad) Jensen, Nathan (Jewel) Werdel, Caleb Werdel, Gabriella Werdel, Nicholas Serocki, Grayson Serocki, Zachary Serocki, and Lucas Serocki; and son-in-law, Matt (Tracy) Marlow. Jim is preceded in death by his grandparents, Albert and Annie Larson and John and Clara Olson; parents, Harvey and Anne Larson; wife, Jackie Larson; special friend Gloria Serocki, daughter, Carrie Marlow and infant granddaughter; sister, Roberta McCarthy; and uncle, Leroy Larson.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations in Jim’s name to the Chokio Sportsmen’s Club, Donate Life America, Wounded Warrior Project, or to your preferred charity.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in care of the arrangements for Jim.