Richard D. Larson

Dr. Richard D. Larson, 80, passed away on December 14, 2016, at Fort Sanders Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee, after a long battle with Polycystic Kidney Disease. Richard was born on May 16, 1936 in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, to Alf Larson, a farmer, and Mildred (Peterson) Larson, a country school teacher. He was raised the second of four children on the family’s turkey farm. After graduation from high school, he received a scholarship to study at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. His studies there were cut short due to the death of his father. He returned home to help his mother and his youngest brother on the family farm. After a year at home, he continued his studies at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and received his degree in Physical Therapy in 1959. His first job as a physical therapist was at the hospitals in Viroqua and Hillsboro, Wisconsin, where he met his future wife, Linda Granger, who was working there as a student nurse during the summer break from Nursing School in Madison, Wisconsin. He married the love of his life on November 25, 1961. Soon after the birth of their first two children, Ramsey (1962) and Kirsten (1964), Richard decided with the support of Linda to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. Although he would be the oldest in his class, he was accepted into Medical School at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. It was during the years of study in Madison that their third child, Greta (1967), was born. After completing his residencies for family medicine in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and in Verona, Wisconsin, the family settled in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, where Richard joined the practice of Drs. Handyside and Bates. The Larsons raised their family in Fort Atkinson, celebrating high school and college graduations and eventually weddings and the birth of their first grandchild. Richard was a highly respected family physician throughout his career. In 1995 Richard was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. In 1997, after working for five years as a Faculty Member and Associate Director of the Mercy Health System Family Practice Residency Program in Janesville, Wisconsin, Richard and Linda moved to Dandridge, Tennessee. Here he and his son, Ramsey, now a doctor himself, opened one of the first family medicine clinics in town. In their first year of practice in Dandridge, the State of Tennessee issued a proclamation in recognition of their contribution to the medical profession and their commitment to providing rural medical care. Although Richard loved travel, history, reading, walks in nature, time spent with family and friends and music ranging from Old Country to ABBA and Opera, he wasn’t a man of many hobbies or a sports enthusiast. His greatest pleasure was working as a family doctor. He was loved by his patients and staff alike for his warm personality, his compassion, competence and kindness. His truly was a life dedicated to healing and helping people – a life well spent. Richard was a loving and supporting husband and a wonderful father and grandfather. He was a cherished friend to so many, known for his helpfulness and his sense of fun and humor. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends alike. He is survived by his wife, Linda, of Dandridge, Tennessee; three children Ramsey (Mara) Larson of Brainerd, Minnesota, Kirsten (Stefan Krafeld) Larson of Lohne, Germany, and Greta (Van) Pell of Hogansville, Georgia; five grandchildren Max Becker of Marburg, Germany, Anna Pell of Appleton, Wisconsin, Lukas Becker of Laer, Germany, Emma Larson of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Holden Larson of Brainerd, Minnesota; his sister JoAnn (Melvin) Neu, his brother Dale (Marcia) Larson; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Wallace Larson. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 21 at Holy Trinity Church, 475 N Highway 92 in Jefferson City. Friends may call from 10 a.m. at the church until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the memorial fund established in his name at the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation (pkdcure.org). Donations can also be made to Donate Life America, or a charity of your choice. The Farrar Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. The family would like to thank the employees of Dandridge Nursing Home for the kind and compassionate care given during his stay.