Surnames: Larson, Hecht, Quade, DeLeon, Teatsorth, Presswood, Strange, Settle, Gustafson, Colidge, Conrad James G. Larson, 68, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Hood River (Oregon) Died at the hospital in Hood River on May 12, 2003 after a heart attack. He also Had been a vacancy pastor for Bethany Lutheran Church in The Dalles. He was born September 14, 1934 in Pierre, South Dakota to Pastor Hugo and Josephine (Rahn) Larson. He attended high school and college at St. John’s Lutheran School in Winfield, Kansas, then attended Concordia Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis. In 1952 his father’s ministry took the family to Wilmot, South Dakota where on A summer break he met and later married Donna Hecht, a local school teacher. They were married on June 3, 1960, the same day he was ordained as a minister. In September 1960 they left for Australia for his first assignment at Cairns, Queensland. After five years they moved back to the United States settling in Hood River, where he served the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hood River and Our Savior’s in Bingen (Washington). Four years later, he left Immanuel to start a new congregation, Divine Word Lutheran Church. He managed a service station and pizza parlor out of the same Building. In 1972, he and his congregation moved into the old First Baptist Church build- ing on the heights and the church was renamed Concordia Lutheran. He opened a Christian Day School there in 1976. It remained open until the 1990s. During his ministry, he led an effort to bring a large group of Vietnamese Refugees to the U.S. Many of the children attended the school. After the school closed he continued his ministry and served congregations As a vacancy pastor. He semi-retired in 1996 but continued to assist new Pastors in the district. He was a courier for Airborne Express, serving the gorge. He was involved in the pro-life movement. He and his wife raised five of their own children and adopted 10 more from Korea, the Philippines, Chicago and Portland. Besides his wife, Donna, he is survived by his children and their spouses, Aaron and Heidi Larson, Tamuning, Guam; Cheye and Verneta Larson, Seattle, (Washington); Linda and Mike Quade, Wilmot, South Dakota; Ingrid and Jack DeLeon, Odell (Oregon); Catherine and Lewis Teatsorth, Lincoln Park, Michigan; Timothy and Janene Larson, Tigard (Oregon); Nathan and Debbie Larson, Odell; Thomas and Adrienne Larson, Portland, Peter Larson, Seattle; Glenn Presswood, Ramunstein AFB, Germany, Rachel and Kevin Strange, Portland; Raphael Larson, Washington, D.C.; Stephen Larson and James R. Larson, Both Seattle; and David Larson, Hood River; his grandchildren, 27 grandchildren, his brothers and Sisters and their spouses, Hugo and Ann Larson, Watertown, South Dakota; Vince And Linda Larson, Carlton (Oregon); John Larson, Eugene (Oregon); Ingrid and Victor Settle, Odell; Grace and Bill Gustafson, Gresham (Oregon); Josie and Carl Coolidge, Boring (Oregon); Naomi and Richard Conrad, Wilmot; and Angela Settle, Seattle. Funeral services were held May 17 at Concordia Church in Hood River and committal was at Idlewild Cemetery. Arrangements were by Anderson Tribute Center of Hood River. Memorials may be made to the Pastor James Larson Memorial account at Bank of America, 115 Oak Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. The Dalles Chronicle May 21, 2003. Written permission to reprint given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, Oregon Copied and submitted by Earline Wasser Member of Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society c/o The Dalles/Wasco County Public Library 722 Court Street The Dalles, Oregon 97058 http://community.oregonlive.com/cc/genealogy Browse http://historysavers.com/orwasco/ recently updated information regarding Wasco County - Links are at the bottom of page http://searches.rootsweb.com/ "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant." Robert Louis Stevenson _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963