Sylvia Larson

Submitted Story

Published: Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

  Sylvia Eleanor (Bajuniemi) Larson, daughter of Levi and Marie (Juntunen) Bajuniemi, was born Oct. 15, 1914, at Lake Norden, S.D. She graduated from Lake Norden High School in 1932 and attended South Dakota State College for one year before returning home to care for her mother. She was united in marriage to George Larson in June of 1936, and together they operated Larson Hardware until George’s death in March of 1958. After his death, Sylvia spent the next 20 years as a girls dorm resident supervisor at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minn., Southern State College in Springfield, S.D., Sioux Falls (S.D.) College and finally at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. She also spent a number of summers working at the YMCA Camp of the Rockies in Colorado.  After retiring she lived in Lake Norden for a number of years. In 1985 she moved to Sioux Falls where she lived with John and Shirley in her own apartment. They returned to Lake Norden in 1998, where she again had her own apartment in John and Shirley’s home. Sylvia was a long time member of the Lake Norden Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School for many years, was active in ladies aid and a member of the Neighborhood Friendly Circle Club. She was an outstanding cook. One of her greatest pleasures was to bake cookies and prepare meals for friends and relatives. Christmas goodies were her specialty. In recent years she spent her spare time knitting dishcloths. Visitors were generally given at least one when they came to visit her. Sylvia loved the Lord, and wanted to share His love through her service to others. Sylvia died Friday, March 27, 2009, at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls at the age of 94.   She was preceded in death by her husband, George; her parents; and two brothers, Leo and Vaino Bajuniemi. She is survived by her daughter, Jane (Norbert) Faulstich; her husband Norbert of Custer, S.D.; two sons, John (Shirley) Larson of Lake Norden, and Robert (Pamela) Larson of Elkin, N.C.; seven grandchildren, Heidi (Thomas) Ode of Brandon, S.D., Tammy (Bob Eppens of Ogden, Utah, Mike (Amy) Larson of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Wanda (Brad)  Drake of Lake Norden, Bob (Karolee) Larson of Butte, Mont., Kevin Isaac and Karim Isaac; and 17 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were April 1 at Evangelical Covenant Church in Lake Norden with pastor Warren Vendt officiating. Interment followed at Lake Norden Baptist Cemetery. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at www.geisefuneralhome.com.