Jeffrey Scott Larson

Jeffrey Scott Larson, 79 passed away October 29, 2026 in the care of Vitas Hospice at his home in St James City, Florida, with his partner Mark at his side. A celebration of life will be held at a later date with his family and friends in Minnesota.

Jeffrey was born May 7, 1947 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Lawrence “Larry” Cyril and Mary “Peggy” Marjorie (Olson) Larson. The family moved to Eagle Bend, Minnesota, in February 1950 where his father set up a dental practice and his mother was a homemaker. In high school, Jeff played the French Horn in band, bass drum in the marching band, sang in the acapella choir, was a cheer leader, and editor of the school annual. Jeff graduated from Eagle Bend High School in 1965. He attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis Minnesota, graduating in 1970 with a vocal music major. He then attended the University of Minnesota and received a BA Degree in social work in about 1976. In the Twin Cities, he worked with the mentally ill.

Jeff met Ron Sturm in early 1979 and they became partners. They moved with friends to San Francisco, where Jeff worked for an overseas container shipping company, at a hospital with the mentally ill, and then for a company doing plant care. He started his own plant care company, working primarily for one wealthy family.

After Ron passed away in April 1987, Jeff moved back to Brainerd and lived with his mother for a year. Together, they traveled to New Zealand. Jeff moved to Minneapolis in May 1988 and worked at Valeries Floral in Eden Prairie, at Bachmann’s, Daisey Floral in Edina, and finally American Express Corporate Travel.

Jeff and Mark Sandell met September 24, 1988 at a membership class for All God’s Children MCC church in Minneapolis. They became immediate friends and soon became life partners, celebrating 38 years together this September 2026.

Jeff started getting sick in 2005 and after a week of testing at Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota, was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. In December 2006, they made the decision to move to warmer weather on Pine Island, Florida. There Jeff’s health continued to decline. He became bedridden in December 2022 following Hurricane Ian and entered home hospice. He stabilized and was discharged 14 months later, but re-entered hospice on April 27, 2026.

Both Jeff and Mark loved to travel, and had planned to do more in retirement. They loved cruises, taking seven in the Caribbean and Mexican Pacific coast. Together Jeff and Mark visited Mexico, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Britain, Italy, the Bahamas, numerous states and cities. Some were visited multiple times.

Before getting sick, Jeff loved cooking, baking, gardening, organ and classical music concerts, plays, and antiquing. He loved reading mysteries. He had a dry sense of humor. Many of his medical caregivers commented on his big smile.

Jeff was predeceased in death by his grandparents, father, mother and partner, Ron Sturm.

He is survived by his life partner, Mark Sandell, brothers and sister in laws, Kim (Claudia Rossi), Rob (Beth), and Stephen (Julie Jo) Larson; nephew Alexander (Samantha) Larson, nieces Shelly (Drew) Lowry, Laura (Nick) Fisher, Joanna (Brandon) Johns, Sorina Larson, and Morgan (Josh Doust) Larson; great nephews Ethan and Russell Lowry, and Samuel Larson; great nieces Brynn & Elsie Johns; great great nephews Drew and Rhodes Lowry.

Memorials are suggested to SolveME/CFS Initiative in Glendale CA or to a social works organization of your choice.