Nita Larson
June 23, 1922 — March 1, 2015
Nita was born June 23, 1922 and died March 1, 2015 at the age of 92 years eight months six days. Nita was born in Rural Sheridan County south of Hays Springs Nebraska in a Danish Agricultural Cooperative Community surrounding St. Peter's Evangelical Church (A.E.L.C. - Gruntvigian) on the Niobrara River. The area was known as "Mirage Flats". She was the fourth of five children of Emil Nielsen Schødt and Anna Marie Jensen Schødt. In the year following her birth the family returned to Anna's home area in the rural Danish community of Kronborg Nebraska (near Marquette NE). Kronborg was the family church as it had been built (not once, but twice) by her grandfather, Carl Jensen. The family name was Anglicized to Scott. Nita was confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in 1935. After Country School, she attended High School in Hampton Nebraska. She rode nine miles to this school on horseback. Nita later transferred to Aurora Nebraska High School where she graduated in 1940. Life was hard for the family during the Great Depression; an experience that had an impact upon Nita for the rest of her life.
After high school she traveled by train to Harlan Iowa to be close to the only nearby Schødt (Scott) relative, Nadjeschda Overgaard, and Nita's sister Edith Petersen who lived in Kimballton. While working in Harlan she met and married Gene Gibbs Larson, on February 14, 1943.
To this marriage four children were born; Dennis, Marcia, Roger and Kent. Marcia E. Larson was born April 25, 1950 and died May 11, 1950.
In 1947; Gene and Nita purchased 3 acres on the west edge of Harlan. In 1948 they began building their home. They lived in the basement as they built the upper floors. Except for the masonry, they built each floor and each room moving the shop equipment to the next room to be finished. As each child was born, they finished off another room. Every inch of the house was custom made by Gene to Nita's specification. It truly was their house, which focused later on Nita's passing.
Nita worked for the Harlan News Advertiser, Gambles Store, Shelby County Extension, Shelby County School Superintendent, Selective Service (Clerk during the Korean War), Harlan Flower Shop and Immanuel Lutheran Church (Secretary). During these years she also sold Avon products. In 1960, Nita began a twenty five year career as Clerk with the Shelby County Soil Conservation Service from where she entered retirement. When she retired she was the longest serving S.C.S. Clerk in Iowa.
Nita was active in many church social and civic activities. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Church life was always the center of her attention. Nita and Gene planted and nurtured the trees on the church grounds. Nita was an active member of the Order of Eastern Star achieving the position of Worthy Matron. She was active in the Shelby County Garden Club and the horticultural section of the Shelby County Fair. Nita was a member of the "Red Hats". Nita inherited her father's artistic abilities, in flower growing and floral arranging. She enjoyed China painting and has shared many of her works with others. Nita was an excellent seamstress. She was a very good Bridge and Hearts player and when she could not find four others to play cards with, she played on line, on the Internet.
After her sons moved away from Harlan, Nita stayed "young" and nurtured relationships with many young people in the community. Perhaps her greatest gift to others, were these friendships that she continued to develop anew even into her last years.
Nita is survived by her sons, Dennis Larson (wife Marilyn Southard), Decorah, Iowa; Roger Larson, Iowa City, Iowa; and Kent Larson (wife Marsha Andersen Larson), Las Vegas Nevada. She is survived by two grandchildren, Steven Gene Larson, (wife Carrie Larson), Scottsdale Arizona; Allison Marie Larson LaRue (husband Terry LaRue), Germantown Tennessee; and three great grandchildren, Ian Larson, Corinne LaRue and Meryl LaRue and two step great grandchildren, Matthew LaRue and Hannah LaRue. Nita was predeceased by her husband, Gene, her daughter, Marcia, her parents Emil and Anna, her siblings, Richard (Schødt) Scott; Nita is survived by her sons, Dennis Larson (wife Marilyn Southard), Decorah, Iowa; Roger Larson, Iowa City, Iowa; and Kent Larson (wife Marsha Andersen Larson), Las Vegas Nevada. She is survived by two grandchildren, Steven Gene Larson, (wife Carrie Larson), Scottsdale Arizona; Allison Marie Larson LaRue (husband Terry LaRue), Germantown Tennessee; and three great grandchildren, Ian Larson, Corinne LaRue and Meryl LaRue and two step great grandchildren, Matthew LaRue and Hannah LaRue. Nita was predeceased by her husband, Gene, her daughter, Marcia, her parents Emil and Anna, her siblings, Richard (Schødt) Scott; Hjalmar (Schødt) Scott, Edith Petersen and Evelyn Beyer.
Nita was determined to live in their house she so dearly loved. So many of her friends enabled her to do this. As she wanted, she died in her home, in her bed, peacefully asleep.
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After high school she traveled by train to Harlan Iowa to be close to the only nearby Schødt (Scott) relative, Nadjeschda Overgaard, and Nita's sister Edith Petersen who lived in Kimballton. While working in Harlan she met and married Gene Gibbs Larson, on February 14, 1943.
To this marriage four children were born; Dennis, Marcia, Roger and Kent. Marcia E. Larson was born April 25, 1950 and died May 11, 1950.
In 1947; Gene and Nita purchased 3 acres on the west edge of Harlan. In 1948 they began building their home. They lived in the basement as they built the upper floors. Except for the masonry, they built each floor and each room moving the shop equipment to the next room to be finished. As each child was born, they finished off another room. Every inch of the house was custom made by Gene to Nita's specification. It truly was their house, which focused later on Nita's passing.
Nita worked for the Harlan News Advertiser, Gambles Store, Shelby County Extension, Shelby County School Superintendent, Selective Service (Clerk during the Korean War), Harlan Flower Shop and Immanuel Lutheran Church (Secretary). During these years she also sold Avon products. In 1960, Nita began a twenty five year career as Clerk with the Shelby County Soil Conservation Service from where she entered retirement. When she retired she was the longest serving S.C.S. Clerk in Iowa.
Nita was active in many church social and civic activities. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Church life was always the center of her attention. Nita and Gene planted and nurtured the trees on the church grounds. Nita was an active member of the Order of Eastern Star achieving the position of Worthy Matron. She was active in the Shelby County Garden Club and the horticultural section of the Shelby County Fair. Nita was a member of the "Red Hats". Nita inherited her father's artistic abilities, in flower growing and floral arranging. She enjoyed China painting and has shared many of her works with others. Nita was an excellent seamstress. She was a very good Bridge and Hearts player and when she could not find four others to play cards with, she played on line, on the Internet.
After her sons moved away from Harlan, Nita stayed "young" and nurtured relationships with many young people in the community. Perhaps her greatest gift to others, were these friendships that she continued to develop anew even into her last years.
Nita is survived by her sons, Dennis Larson (wife Marilyn Southard), Decorah, Iowa; Roger Larson, Iowa City, Iowa; and Kent Larson (wife Marsha Andersen Larson), Las Vegas Nevada. She is survived by two grandchildren, Steven Gene Larson, (wife Carrie Larson), Scottsdale Arizona; Allison Marie Larson LaRue (husband Terry LaRue), Germantown Tennessee; and three great grandchildren, Ian Larson, Corinne LaRue and Meryl LaRue and two step great grandchildren, Matthew LaRue and Hannah LaRue. Nita was predeceased by her husband, Gene, her daughter, Marcia, her parents Emil and Anna, her siblings, Richard (Schødt) Scott; Nita is survived by her sons, Dennis Larson (wife Marilyn Southard), Decorah, Iowa; Roger Larson, Iowa City, Iowa; and Kent Larson (wife Marsha Andersen Larson), Las Vegas Nevada. She is survived by two grandchildren, Steven Gene Larson, (wife Carrie Larson), Scottsdale Arizona; Allison Marie Larson LaRue (husband Terry LaRue), Germantown Tennessee; and three great grandchildren, Ian Larson, Corinne LaRue and Meryl LaRue and two step great grandchildren, Matthew LaRue and Hannah LaRue. Nita was predeceased by her husband, Gene, her daughter, Marcia, her parents Emil and Anna, her siblings, Richard (Schødt) Scott; Hjalmar (Schødt) Scott, Edith Petersen and Evelyn Beyer.
Nita was determined to live in their house she so dearly loved. So many of her friends enabled her to do this. As she wanted, she died in her home, in her bed, peacefully asleep.
PDF Printable Version
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