Rodney Richard Larson

1931-2018

Resident of Sun City, Arizona; Loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and neighbor.

Rod Larson of Sun City, Arizona passed away peacefully on Sunday December 2, 2018 surrounded by his family. He was 86 years old.

Rod was born December 7, 1931 in Volin, South Dakota, the only child of Leaf and Jessie Larson. He grew up in the Vermillion area and spent most of his childhood helping his dad on the farm milking cows and working in the fields. He went to a 1-room country school and liked to remind his kids that he walked three miles to school and back every day in the snow. In high school, nicknamed ‘Red’, Rod boxed and ran track. And as a boy, he dreamed of two things – flying airplanes and going someplace tropical. While attending the University of South Dakota, he joined the air force which put him on a path to not only fulfill those dreams but to meet the love of his life, Molly Larson.

After joining the Air Force and completing basic training, Rod was given options on where he wanted to be assigned. One option was to be based in Hawaii. Rod signed up without hesitation and the rest is history. While stationed at Hickam Air Force Base near Pearl Harbor, he would frequent a local bar where he met Molly, who worked there. He would come in to visit her so often that her manager eventually banned him from coming around. Molly promptly quit. Rod served in the air force for four years and when he was honorably discharged, he and Molly moved to the mainland where they married and raised their family.

First and foremost, Rod was an honorable man. He was the foundation of the family, their pillar of strength. He was hard-working, honest, dependable, smarter than most yet humble to the core. He excelled in math and after leaving the air force, enjoyed a very successful career at SDC and IBM as a computer programmer, analyst and manager. He was an avid bowler, a long-time golfer, and a shrewd card player. He was an enthusiastic Arizona Wildcats fan, loved going to the movies and listening to music. He was also a bit of a practical joker who delighted in playing tricks on his kids. He and Molly loved to travel and created some of their best memories on numerous cruises and family vacations.

Rod and Molly were married for 58 years and have four children, Gloria and Renee Larson of Phoenix, Arizona, Ann Sheridan of San Jose, California and David Larson of Denver, Colorado as well as a daughter-in-law Karin Larson of Denver, Colorado and a son-in-law, Phil Sheridan of San Jose, California. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Zachary and Jessy Lien of Denver, Colorado, Heather, Lauren and Becca Sheridan of San Jose, California and Marissa Larson Of Denver, Colorado as well as three great grandchildren, Madison DeSousa, Reese Schneider and Jace Lien, all of Denver Colorado. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Lani Dias, Mamo and Pauline Thornton as well as nieces Stephanie Sandoval-Dias, Maile Okuma and nephew Billy Dias.

Rod was the rock of his family. His moral guidance, kindness and emotional strength will always be with us. He is now together with Molly on their next big adventure.

A private family service will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, memorial donations may be made in Rod’s honor to:

Iolani Palace

P.O. Box 2259

Honolulu, Hawaii

96804