Elizabeth M. Larsen

Elizabeth “Liz” Margaret (Mason) Larsen was born May 20, 1922 in Seward, Nebraska to Benjamin Fred and Anna (Wickenkamp) Mason. She died April 28, 2012 in Geneva, Nebraska at the age of 89 years, 11 months. Elizabeth was one of five children, three brothers (deceased) and one sister, Genevieve Franke. She grew up in Seward, graduating from high school in 1940, and then attended business school in Lincoln after which she worked for the City of Lincoln and the University of Nebraska, and later met Herman Larsen. Herm and Liz were married September 9, 1950 in Lincoln and moved to Geneva, Nebraska in 1951. Their marriage of nearly 62 years was blessed with two daughters, Suzanne and Patricia. Raising the two girls was her greatest joy and priority, followed closely by her pride in her three grandchildren, Aaron, Chelsea and Daniel. Her interests and hobbies were many and varied, including bridge, Kensington, birding, reading, swimming, playing cards, music, dancing, enjoying time with friends, and Nebraska football. She was a member of the United Methodist Church where she was active in circle and where she also taught Sunday School for 25 years. She was a member of her PEO chapter and served as different officers over the years and she was recently honored for being a 50-year member of her chapter. She touched the lives of many children during the 25 years she was the Elementary School secretary. Liz loved nature and enjoyed being outdoors and she and Herman took many camping vacations with the girls, in fact she made sure that, while the girls were growing up, they took a family vacation every year. She and Herman also toured Europe and went on an Alaskan cruise. Many of their vacations were centered around the Wickenkamp family reunions which Liz started with a cousin from Canada in the mid 1970’s. The reunion gets together every other year, meeting in the state where one of the cousins lives. They’ve met in states from coast to coast, and in Canada three times. The second generation is now carrying on this tradition that was so important to Liz. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Walter, Fritz and Robert Mason and brother-in-law Robert Franke. Elizabeth is survived by her husband Herman, daughters and spouses Suzanne and Jesse Sherwood of Overland Park, Kansas, and Patricia and Chris Huston of Central City, Nebraska, three grandchildren Aaron, Chelsea and Daniel Huston, and one sister Genevieve Franke of Grand Island, Nebraska; and nieces and nephews. Memorial service 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, at the United Methodist Church in Geneva. The Family will be greeting friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Fussell Fellowship Hall at the United Methodist Church in Geneva. Memorials to the Church or EMT in lieu of flowers.

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Elizabeth M. Larsen

May 20, 1922 - April 28, 2012