Irene S. Larson, age 102 of Westbrook, passed away Sunday, August 9, 2015 at Westbrook Good Samaritan Care Center. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 15 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Westbrook. Visitation is one hour prior to services. Burial is in Storden Baptist Cemetery. Memorials to Immanuel Baptist Church are preferred in lieu of flowers. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Irene S. Larson was born May 17, 1913 near Storden, Minnesota, the daughter of John N. and Caroline (Lena) Peterson Sorenson. She grew up on the family farm. At the age of eleven, as she knelt by her mother’s bedside, Irene asked Jesus to be her personal Savior, was baptized in Bean Lake, and became a member of the Storden Baptist Church. There she was well discipled and Bible-taught. In time she was privileged to teach others in Sunday School, youth and women’s groups. After graduating from Storden High School, valedictorian of the 1932 class, she was a student at the University of Minnesota for two years before marrying her high school sweetheart, Emanuel (E.H.) Larson, on September 6, 1935. After they had reared three daughters, Irene finished a Bachelor’s Degree at Mankato State University and taught English. She returned to MSU and received her Master’s Degree in 1971. She was on the English faculty at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA from January 1973 through May 1983 – her God-given destiny after her husband’s death. For 72 years Irene knew the joy of singing her faith in choirs, small groups, and as a soloist. Upon retirement, Irene was content to be home again in close contact with her children, and caretaker of the beautiful acreage at Double Lake – part of the sixty six acres which became a Century Farm in 1997.

Irene is survived by three daughters: Judith (William) Hisken of Marshall, Sandra Eveland of Backus, and Linda (Ronald) Daggett of Plymouth; eight grandsons; four granddaughters; 32 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; a sister-in-law; and five nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sisters, two brothers; a son-in-law, and one nephew.