Thief River Falls – JoAnn Larson 86 died Thursday, January 12, 2017 at Sanford in Thief River Falls.
To respect her wishes, there will be no funeral, memorial or graveside service.
JoAnn Marian Benitt was the youngest of five children born to the late John P. and Anna (Holst) Benitt on April 26, 1930 in Pennington Co. She was baptized May 22, 1930 by Rev. V.E. Schroeder of St. John's Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls and confirmed May 28, 1944 by Pastor T.C. Hanson at the Nazareth Lutheran Church at Holt.
She was a graduate of the Newfolden High School in 1948 and then earned her teaching certificate from the Teacher’s Training Dept. in Thief River Falls and taught rural elementary school.
JoAnn was united in marriage to Donald Larson on August 9, 1950 at the Nazareth Lutheran Church at Holt by Pastor V.G. Sorenson. To this union, they were blest with four children. She continued to live in rural Holt until 1988 when she moved to Thief River Falls.
She was a long time member of the Nazareth Lutheran Church of Holt and its organizations. She was presently a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls. She devoted her life to being a homemaker, mother and grandmother.
JoAnn is survived by children: Danny (Kim) Larson, Chugiak, Alaska; Gloriann Fischer, Baudette; Stacy (Bernard) Blawat, Holt; and Stephany Wilkens, Brainerd; seven grandchildren: Jake and Meg Larson; Mitchell and Anthony Martin; Rachel Blawat and Katherine and Amanda Wilkens. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Carol and Aileen Benitt and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, the father of her children, a son-in-law, Doyle Martin; brothers, Orvus, Elroy and Rueben Benitt; a sister, Elda Knutson and brother-in-law Clinton Knutson and sister-in-law Dolores Benitt.
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