Ruth M. (Berger) Larson

Ruth M. Larson was born at home on a farm west of Toledo, Iowa to Rose Youngman and Lonnie Berger in the Fairview Community on September 9, 1931. She was the youngest of six and the only one that was still living. Her three brothers and two sisters were Merle (Helen) Berger; Martha (Paul) Benson; Donald (Jenny) Berger; Marion (Faye) Berger; Rose Mary (Merle) Hall.

She was baptized in the Fairview Methodist country church in the community and in her youth became a member. She was very active in her church, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, and helping with the annual ice cream social each year that was very well known around the country. Ruth went to a one room country school for eight years and Toledo High School for four years graduating in 1949. After graduation she worked and lived the rest of her life in Marshalltown, Iowa. She transferred her church membership to the First Methodist Church in Marshalltown and became active until she passed away.

On February 10, 1951, she married Alfred “Rocky” Larson. They had three sons, Mark, Jack, and Ted, who were all very active in sports. It kept them very busy following their baseball games. The family loved fishing and spent lots of family time at their cabin in Minnesota. “Rocky” passed away in 1988.

After the boys were several years old, Ruth went to work to help support the family. She started out at Cooper’s, worked at Marshalltown Instruments for 25 years, and after the business moved to Nebraska, she worked ten years at the Marshalltown High School as a custodian before retiring in 1994. She became a member of the Women of the Moose, Chapter 71st, volunteering many years in the Moose Lodge. She continued through the many offices in women organization and received the highest honors at the College of Regents at Las Vegas in 2008. On April 1, 2016, Ruth’s companion Gerald “Carkey” Carkhuff passed away after 20 years together. Her son Ted passed August 19, 2016. Ruth loved and enjoyed her seven loving grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her two sons; her grandchildren: Lynn (Chuck) Tremain, Kristy (Jeremy) Schmidt, Beth (Luke) Ahrendsen, Shanna (Ben) Gates, Adam Larson, David Larson, Laura (Alex) Castro and ten great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.

Ruth loved life and her faith kept her going for ninety years. She had many friends and enjoyed her many friends at the Embers where she lived her last years.

- Lovingly written by Ruth Larson herself.

A funeral service is scheduled at First Methodist Church in Marshalltown on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 12:00 P.M. Pastor Jeff Kodis will be officiating. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. prior to the service, also at the church. Ruth will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Mitchell Family Funeral Home of Marshalltown has been entrusted with the care of Ruth and her family. Memorials may be directed to Iowa River Hospice House or First Methodist Church of Marshalltown. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.