Mary Jo Larson

Dates

Obituary

Mary Jo Larson, 76, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at her home under hospice care. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 AM Tuesday, November 5, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mitchell with visitation one hour prior to the Mass. Burial will be at Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, SD. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

A livestream of Mary Jo’s Funeral Mass can be viewed at: https://www.mitchellcatholic.org/whats-new/livestream

Mary Jo Larson, daughter of Joseph and Marjorie (Hohn) Neuheisel, was born August 23, 1948, in Parkston, SD. She grew up in Parkston and graduated from Parkston High School in 1966. After high school, Mary Jo attended Mount Marty University.

Mary Jo was united in marriage with Randy Larson on August 1, 1968, in Parkston, SD. The couple started their journey through life in Mount Vernon, moved to Parkston and finally settled in Mitchell.  Mary Jo spent much of her early adult life as a homemaker, tending to the household & children while Randy was on the road in the animal biological and pharmaceutical sales business. She eventually went back to college and graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1996, with a Bachelor of Arts. Mary Jo worked for the Mitchell Area Adjustment Training Center (now LifeQuest) for several years after graduating, before settling into retirement.

She was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mitchell and the Holy Spirit Altar Society.

Mary Jo was a fan of Mitchell High School and Dakota Wesleyan athletics. She enjoyed listening to MHS and DWU football and basketball games on the radio. Reading, gardening and watching sunsets from the family home on Lake Mitchell were favorite pastimes. She always emphasized the importance of reading to her children and grandchildren.

Mary Jo always put her loved ones above everything else. She supported her children and grandchildren in the various activities they participated in. Spending time with her grandchildren always brought a smile to her face. Mary Jo loved to visit with others, usually over a cup of coffee.  She always looked forward to her coffee outings and shopping trips with her dear friends Joan Honomichl and Monica Huber.

She is survived by two sons, Pat (Angie) Larson, Mitchell, SD and Chris Larson, and a daughter, Stacie Larson, Mitchell, SD; three grandchildren, Atlas Larson, Minneapolis, MN, Tyler (Elizabeth) Larson, Olympia, WA, and Thomas “TJ” Larson, Mitchell, SD; brother, Bill (Sharon) Neuheisel, Kearney, NE; brother-in-law, Burt Reiser, Parkston, SD; sister-in-law, Vicky (Bernie) Goodson, Fort Mill, SC; brother-in-law, Jim (Pam) Larson, Mitchell, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Romaine Reiser and Valeria Uttecht-Schoenfelder; one sister-in-law, Beverly Neuheisel; and two brothers-in-law, Harold Uttecht and Clete Schoenfelder.

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