Geroge Louis Larsen

George Louis Larsen, 97, of Rozet, a longtime Campbell County rancher and WWII veteran, passed away Friday, Dec. 9, 2011, at the Pioneer Manor in Gillette of natural causes.George was born Aug. 8, 1914, in Coon Rapids, Iowa, to Chris and Marie (Spirup) Larsen. In 1918 the family moved to a small farm in Exira, Iowa.In 1920 after selling the farm in Iowa, the family moved to Wyoming in an old Model T truck, settling in southern Campbell County on a section of land they had purchased from the Wilmonts, where they raised cattle and farmed. In 1926, they moved to Beaver Creek, Ore. This is where George graduated from the eighth grade. The fall of 1929, found the Larsen's moving back to the home place in southern Campbell County where they stayed until 1938 when they sold out to Paul and Sadie Murphy. At this time they moved to the ranch northeast of Rozet which they purchased from E.E. Hammond.During his mid-teens George and his brother, Marion, worked for various ranchers in the Thunder Basin region. George recalled many stories of working for King Bales, using teams of six horses to pull the plow and harrow with a team of eight horses to pull a ten foot disk. George also worked for Lorey Anderson and at the Morton Ranch in Douglas. In 1934, George and his brother, Marion, bicycled across northeast Wyoming to the Grand Tetons where they worked for the summer. In 1937, George and his brother, Marion, started a small band, Marion played the violin, George played the guitar and a neighbor played the drums. They would play in school houses and community halls in and around the Teckla and Douglas area.George joined the Wyoming National Guard in Sheridan in February of 1941, but two days after joining he was inducted to the Army. George spent three years at Fort Lewis Washington, then moved on to camps in Oregon, California and Texas. In 1944 George was sent overseas where he served in France, Germany and Austria. He spent all of his time in the service as a cook, serving both enlisted men and officers. Upon his discharge in August of 1945 he returned to the ranch in Rozet to begin ranching with his parents on the land that he had bought adjoining theirs while he was in the service.In 1951, George was united in marriage to Hertha Semlek at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gillette. The couple continued to make their home on the ranch, where they raised two sets of twins.George was an active member with the local Farm Bureau in Gillette and also a devoted member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Gillette for over 70 years, where he was very active and held many offices.George is survived by twin daughters, Ann (John) Shellhart of Cheyenne and Diann (Matt) Avery of Rozet; twin sons, Don (Sheila) Larsen of Gillette and Dan Larsen of Denver; sister-in-law, Margaret Larsen of Cheyenne; five grandchildren, Tina (Marty) Graham, Autumn (Tommy) Earhart, Sarah (Matt) Salas, Chris Larsen, Lindsay Larsen and Travis Larsen; six great-grandchildren, Selby and Delcy Graham, Alexis and Christian McGregor, Austin Newson and Dacian Larsen and several nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his wife, Hertha; parents, Chris and Marie Larsen and brother, Marion Larsen.Memorials may be given in George's name to the Trinity Lutheran Church in Gillette.Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Tucher officiating.Burial will follow at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, on Gray Road.Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church. Funeral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716