Ronald Larson

Ronald Ray Larson was born June 14, 1957, in Hot Springs, S.D., the first of five children born to Melvin Charles Larson and Jeanette Carol (Raver) Larson.  He grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota and developed a love for the outdoors, hunting and fishing.

He graduated from Sturgis (S.D.) Brown High School in 1975. After graduation he worked for the railroad. He was very good with a hammer, working various construction jobs.  

Life was full of opportunities for Ron. He was an excellent skier and worked and skied in Colorado with the New Zealand Olympic ski team. When he lived in Florida, he ran a crew of ironworkers laying out skyscrapers from the ground up. He loved to brag on how the engineers would turn him loose on a building, confident that he could erect the structure within an eighth of plumb.

When he came back to South Dakota he hired on with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks grooming trails. He loved the tranquility of driving through the Hills on the groomer.

He married Marla Edwards Sept. 28, 1986, and after some time of adjustment, they remarried Sept. 6, 1994.

Ron was a very compassionate person who loved people and was always willing to help those who were down and out. As a recovering alcoholic, he touched many lives, helping them deal with the demons he was all too familiar with.

Ron, of Rapid City, S.D., died Nov. 4, 2019, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. He was 62.

He was preceded in death by both parents and a sister.

Ron is survived by his daughter, Jennifer (Robert) Young of Rapid City; son, Brandon (Toni) Larson of Gillette, Wyo.; seven grandchildren, RhiAnna Young, Kyla Mitsos, Leighton Young, Landon Mitsos, Lance Mitsos, Logan Larson and Brittany Larson; sisters, Lawana (Jeff) Gramm of Mesa, Ariz., and Cheryl (Bergie) Bergstrom of Rapid City; brothers, Dan (Jonni) Larson of Sturgis and Justin (Heather) Worley of Kenosha, Wis.; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Memorial services were Nov. 9 at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Pastor Joel Gross officiating.  Inurnment will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for the Cornerstone Rescue Mission and its transition program.

Condolences may be sent to the family at kinkadefunerals.com.