Dorrance "Dorry" Larson

Dorrance "Dorry" Larson, age 73, passed away peacefully at his home on October 3, 2022.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, October 14, at 5:00 p.m. at the Rosholt Community Center.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Dorrance Walter was born on August 7, 1949, in Wheaton, MN. Dorry was the fourth child of Dorrance L. and Ora Claire (Rosdahl) Larson, one of seven children. He attended school in Wheaton, graduating with the class of 1967. While in high school, Dorry enjoyed participating in several sports and drama club.

In the fall of 1967, Dorry packed up (with the help of his sister and brother-in-law, Judith and Lynel) and began his college career at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. While attending Concordia, Dorry married Mary Munson on April 19, 1969. They had two daughters, Vanessa and Jennifer. Dorry continued his post-secondary education at the University of Minnesota, where he and the girls enjoyed being devoted Gopher fans. After the completion of his master's degree, he attended the University of South Dakota where he achieved his doctoral degree in Psychology.

After graduation, he moved to eastern South Dakota to continue his career as a mental health professional. While in Brookings, Dorry married Nancy Rausch on July 23, 1983, and together had two children, Dorrance Joseph (Joe) and Claire.

It would be remiss not to mention Dorry's love of his dogs, most recently, Schotze, his princess German wirehaired. Throughout his career, Dorry was most passionate about his work with tribal members from Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, Flandreau and others across the nation.  He greatly respected the native traditions.

In 2014, Dorry retired from his therapy practice and has enjoyed spending time in an icehouse, on a boat, walking a field, or in the wood shop for the past several years.

Dorry was preceded in death by his parents Ora Claire (Rosdahl) Larson and Dorrance Lavern Larson.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy (Rausch) Larson of Rosholt; his children, Vanessa Murray of Sioux Falls, Jennifer Larson of Pierre, Joe (Abby) Larson of Boston, MA, and Claire Larson of Brookings; nine grandchildren; Also by his siblings, Jean (Clyde) Olson of Duluth, Judith (Lynel) Larson of Wheaton, Bonnie Synstelien of Fergus Falls, Nancy (Terry) Anderson of Stillwater, Dayton (Teri) Larson of Orono, and Jana (Tom) Rockne of Traverse City, MI; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family requests memorials be directed to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.