Mary Lou Larson age 79 of Redwood Falls, formerly of Tracy and Marshall, passed away Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the Redwood Area Hospital following a brief illness. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 14, 2015 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. Friday at the Redwood Valley Funeral Home, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Burial will be in the Tracy City Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home in Redwood Falls is assisting family with arrangements.

Mary Lou Hook Larson was born July 12, 1935 on the family farm in Gales Township, rural Tracy, Minnesota to Bert and Agnes (Carlson) Hook.  She was baptized on February 24, 1946 at Lake Sarah Baptist Church in Slayton.  She attended country school at District 35 in Redwood County, until she fell ill with polio in July of 1946.  She spent 19 months at Sister Kenny Institute, and completed the 6^th grade while there.  She tutored at home for grades 7-9, and was able to attend Tracy High School for her sophomore, junior, and senior years, thanks to some very special friends who assisted Mary Lou while she navigated the school halls.  Mary Lou graduated in 1953.  On October 28, 1962, Mary Lou was united in marriage to Floyd Larson at Tracy United Methodist Church in Tracy, Minnesota.  Together they lived in Marshall, Minnesota for eleven years, where Mary Lou was employed by Marshall Processing.  The couple later moved to Redwood Falls in 1973.  Mary Lou and Floyd were blessed with one daughter, Susan Jean.  Mary Lou volunteered her time for the Red Cross Blood Drives, and was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church where she was a monthly caller and served on the Sunshine Committee.  Recently, Mary Lou greatly enjoyed hosting neighborhood coffee parties.  Her grandchildren were the highlight of her life, and often Mary Lou could be found playing house, school, or dress up with them.  Despite the physical challenges she faced after recovering from polio, Mary Lou never slowed down, and remained an independent, patient, and caring person.

Mary Lou is survived by her daughter Susan (Dominic) Ehman and grandchildren, Gabriella, Matthew, and Amelia Ehman all of New Richmond, WI; brother Eugene Hook of Tracy; nephew Tom (Shannon) Hook of Tracy; niece Patti Hook (Arden Virnig) of Onamia; and many other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Floyd, infant sister, sisters-in-law Mary Alice Hook, Rachel Gislason, Florence Possail, Arlene Peterson, brother-in-law Alvin Larson, parents-in-law Pontus and Bessie Larson, and niece Mary Catherine Virnig.