Zona Gayle (Rupp) Larson was born on December 28, 1938, to Vernon and Berdella (Raddohl) Rupp. She was a lifelong member of Hazel Run Lutheran Church where she was baptized, confirmed, and married.

When she was very young, she lived in rural Granite Falls, Sioux Agency Township, where she had many fond memories. One of which was that her country schoolteacher knew that if she heard the outside door close, that Zona had snuck outside to go play.  Her family moved to Clarkfield when Zona was ten years old. While growing up Zona loved her horse, Abigail. She and her sister, Sandra, shared a passion for horses. She graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1956.

After high school, she went to the University of Minnesota for one year and then worked at F.W. Woolworth company in Minneapolis.  While she lived and worked in the Twin Cities, she met the love of her life, Roger Larson, who had recently returned from the Army.  Roger, who had a car, would often give rides “back home for the weekend” to young women from Hazel Run & Maynard.  Roger remembers that Zona always managed to get the seat right next to him for these rides. This blossomed into a romance which led to their marriage.  Zona and Roger married on February 11, 1961. This marriage was blessed with three children: Randy, Rolynn and Valerie. They were married for 63 wonderful years.

Zona had a huge, soft heart and loved her family tremendously. She found great joy in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She always wanted hugs and kisses from everyone at family gatherings.  

Throughout Zona’s lifetime she was very active in Hazel Run Lutheran Church. She enjoyed being president of the Ladies’ Aide for many years. Quilting at home and at church was one of her passions.  She was always on the lookout for fabric and couldn’t pass a “quilt shop” without stopping to add to her collection. She made quilts for all her kids and grandkids for graduations and weddings. 

Zona was an excellent cook and loved organizing food for family and other events. There was always plenty of food when she was in charge.  Zona loved gardening. She had flower gardens until she could no longer tend to them, then later used silk flowers in their place so she could still enjoy their beauty.  She also had a vegetable garden and an apple orchard.  She loved to share the bounty and worked with friends and family to make apple juice and other delightful foods from the fruits and vegetables. Zona was often seen zipping around the farm on her golf cart.  She loved taking the great-grandchildren for rides and her laughter was a joy to hear.

Zona spent the twilight of her life at Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall where she received wonderful care, for which we are very thankful.  All her life she loved singing church hymns and other songs. She could be heard down the hallways at Morningside bringing smiles to anyone who could hear her. She was especially happy when people joined her in the singing.  

Zona passed away at the age of 85 on Saturday, March 23, 2024, with her family by her side at the Avera Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Robert Weber; parents-in-law, Reuben and Dena Larson; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Arnold Larson, Helen & Fred Gerdes, Dave Porter, Harold Baker, and Jerry Larson, and great-granddaughter Liberty Ann Santjer.

Mourning her loss are her husband of 63 years, Roger; children, Randy (Virgina) Larson of Montevideo, Rolynn (Barbara) Larson of Chaska, and Valerie (Scott) Santjer of Granite Falls; grandchildren, Rachel (Kyle Anderson) Bussman, Zach (Karli) Santjer, Scott (Shannon) Larson, Tyler (Nicole) Santjer, Nichole Larson, Chris Larson, Brittni Larson; eleven great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Annette Porter, Donna Baker, Eveyln Larson, Dale & Jeanette Larson, and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 28th, at 2 PM at the Hazel Run Lutheran Church with visitation starting at 1 PM at the church. Interment to follow in the church cemetery.