Grace Rose Larsen

Northview - North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, MN 56003
507-388-2288

Grace Rose Larsen, age 87 of Mankato, died, Saturday, May 11, 2013 at Oak Terrace Assisted Living in North Mankato surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 17, 2013 at Belgrade Avenue United Methodist Church in North Mankato with Pastor Dan Horn, officiating. A visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 17, 2013 at church and continue until the time of the service. Burial will be in Minneopa Cemetery in rural Mankato. Northview - North Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Grace was born at Badleys Cottage, Great Waldingfield, near Sudbury, Suffolk England on June 13, 1925 to Charles and Ruth (Poulding) Garrod. She lived there until her move to the United States in July, 1947. Grace became of age during WWII and many times talked about her life during the war. It is during that time that she met her future husband, Kenneth. Kenneth was an American soldier working as a guard at the airbase in Sudbury when he met Grace. After the war, Kenneth returned to England to claim his bride. They were married on November 30, 1946 in Great Waldingfield. After marriage they lived in England for one year, and then moved to the United States farming in rural Lake Crystal and rural Mankato. Grace and Ken retired and moved to Mankato in 1978. Grace enjoyed flower gardening, knitting, puzzles, and visiting with friends and family.

Grace is survived by her four children and their spouses, Linda (James) Kretsch of Waconia, Sonia (Allen) Hager of White Bear Lake, Charles (Connie) Larsen of Mankato, and Brenda (Tom) Allen of North Mankato; grandchildren Jennifer Kretsch of Waconia, Suzanne (Richard) Ruppin of Soddy Daisy, TN, Chad (Gina), Jayme and Steven (Nicole) Hager all of White Bear Lake, Jessica Hager of Wasilla, AK, Jeremy (Amy) Larsen of Mankato, Matt (Kirsten) of Golden Valley, Shane Larsen of Mankato, Kristina (Brad) Guth of St. Peter, Kim (David) Luiken of North Mankato, Scott Allen of Grand Forks, ND; great-grandchildren, Alexis Kretsch, Calvin, Kaitlyn and Robert Hager, Molly, Kori and Riley Larsen, Kole, Hailee, Brock and Makayla Guth, Breena, Elijah and Tobias Luiken; and extended family in England and the United States.

Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth in 2010; son Steven in 1961; her parents and her siblings Dorothy, Vera, Ivy, Fred, Mary, and Lily.