Donald Leroy Larson

Donald Leroy Larson 100% Swede and stubborn as they come, told his last politically-incorrect joke on June 24, 2018 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was 76 years old. He will be remembered as a hard-working family man with a gift for storytelling, and a sarcastic sense of humor which, along with the gleam in his eyes and ornery smile, never failed to delight his audiences.
Don was born in Stromsburg, Nebraska on September 7, 1941. One of nine children, Don developed his strong, Midwest work ethic on his family’s farm in Osceola, Nebraska. As he often told his own children, after milking the cows, mucking the stalls, and chopping wood, he had to walk to school every day – uphill both directions, usually barefoot and in the snow.
Don graduated from high school at age 16, working a variety of jobs for the next two years. He enlisted in the U.S. Army one month after turning 18, where he served proudly as a mechanic during the early years of the Vietnam Conflict. Stationed in Germany, he picked up some of the language and used family dinnertime to teach some essentials to his kids. Bier. Salz. Pfeffer. Fleisch und kartoffeln. Profanity.
The result of a blind date, Don met the love of his life, Barbara (Krebs), at a dance in Madison, Minnesota in the spring of 1966. That evening, Barbara told her friends that she had met the man she would marry. And she did on March 30, 1967 in Minneapolis. And because they enjoyed it so much the first time, Don and Barbara renewed their vows on August 26, 1995 in Cheyenne. The couple celebrated 51 years together earlier this year.
Following Don’s graduation from Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, he began a 47-year career in the plumbing and heating industry, which brought Don and Barbara to Cheyenne, Wyoming in the spring of 1971 with three young children in tow. Don worked for A.Y. McDonald, first as an award-winning outside salesman, eventually becoming manager of the Cheyenne branch as well as its three Wyoming sub-branches.
In the early 1990s, Don’s passion for continual learning led him to Cheyenne Aero Tech where he graduated as an airframe and powerplant mechanic. He enjoyed the educational opportunity, but never sought a career as an aviation mechanic, instead continuing to work in the plumbing and heating industry. Don wrapped up his career at Mechanical Systems Inc. in Cheyenne where he worked as purchasing manager for 12 years.
Don was a great cook. He did the majority of the cooking for his family through the years. His Swedish pancakes, and fresh fried walleye will be fondly remembered. One of the things his wife and children will miss most is Sunday family dinners featuring his delicious Midwest comfort food.
Don enjoyed the outdoors, golf, football (Go Big Red!), Bud Light, American steak and potatoes, the Righteous Brothers, John Wayne movies, Dances With Wolves, and reruns of Blue Bloods. Not necessarily in that order.
He loved sharing his vast knowledge of hunting, fishing, camping, and nature with his children and grandchildren. Blessed with a keen sense of direction, he never seemed to get lost and knew the backroads of Wyoming as if he had shaped them himself.
Don enjoyed traveling and had the opportunity to see many beautiful and historic places with his wife and family. They enjoyed a 2-week trip to Italy in 2017, just weeks before learning of his cancer diagnosis.
In addition to his wife, Barbara, Don is survived by his three children Jacki Donner, Steven Larson, and David Larson, all of Cheyenne; two sisters, Sue Gabriel (Robert) and Mildred Chames; two grandchildren, Kiel Golike (Stephanie) and Reid Golike (Pita); one great grandchild, Rebecca Golike; twelve nieces and nephews, four brothers-in-law, and three sisters-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gotfried and Glenda Larson, three brothers, three sisters, one nephew, and Chelsea, his yellow labrador.
Cremation has taken place at Weiderspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes. At the appropriate time, and according to his wishes, his ashes will be combined with his lovely bride’s for final disposition.
A celebration of life will be held later this summer.
In lieu of flowers, casseroles and other gifts for the family, please consider making a donation in Don’s memory to Black Dog Animal Rescue or the Cheyenne Animal Shelter.