Wayne Carl Larson was born to his Swedish father Carl Larson and his Austrian-Hungarian mother Ida (nee Tongish) Larson on August 12th, 1923, in Rawlins County at their farm near Ludell along present-day highway 36 (two miles west of Midway). As the couple’s second child, he joined older sister Bernice, and was followed by his younger sister Lorraine. The family moved to the Larson farm seven miles southwest of Oberlin along the north fork of Sappa Creek when Wayne was two years old. Wayne grew up in hard times when the severe drought of the 1930’s led to the dust storms of the Dirty 30’s and lack of resources during the Great Depression. His parents survived by raising hogs and hanging on year by year until things got better.

He attended country school for eight years at nearby Prairie Temple. Wayne boarded in the town of Oberlin while he attended school at Decatur County High School for his first three years. During his senior year he drove a 1935 Ford to school from the family farm and graduated from DCHS in 1941.

Following high school, Wayne helped his father with their farming operation until he was drafted into the U. S. Army in August 1944. He completed his basic training at Camp Roberts in California and shipped out from there in a troop ship called the Sea Snipe for the Philippines. There he was part of the 108th Infantry campaign on the islands of Lahte, Mindinao, and Hane until the surrender of Japan which ended World War II. Wayne then served in the Korean occupation for one year until he was honorably discharged. He returned to the United States in 1946.

Upon his return from military service, Wayne resumed farming with his dad and lived a mile down the road from his parents’ farm on the Sappa Creek. At the wedding of his army buddy in Pratt County, he was introduced to his buddy’s sister, Lois Haas. With God’s blessing, they wed at her home church, St. Paul Lutheran in Natrona on May 6, 1951. Although Wayne was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church at Herndon as an infant, he became a Lutheran by rite of Confirmation in 1953 at St. John’s Lutheran and was an active communicant member at St. John’s throughout his adult life.

Along the way, Wayne and Lois were blessed with five children during their marriage: twins Suzanne and Joanne, Craig, Bonnie, and Brad. The family enjoyed camping and fishing trips together “happily” cramped into his homemade pickup camper. They also enjoyed 4H and scouting activities through the years, as well as travel to Sweden and Europe and hosting foreign visitors. Together Wayne and Lois worked hard to build their farming and ranching operation. It is remarkable what they, along with son Craig, accomplished with their grain and livestock operation.

Wayne and Lois celebrated 60 years of marriage in May 2011 and continued to enjoy their life together on the farm until God called Lois home on March 18, 2012. Wayne lived on the farm after the passing of Lois where he helped oversee the farming operation, checking on cattle regularly, and enjoying the companionship of his trusty cattle dog, Blaze. He also went to local dances, fed the trout in his fishing pond (so others could enjoy catching them), attended church services, and participated in family get-togethers. On occasion he visited the Golden Age Senior Center making a point to go on the days they served their delicious mashed potatoes. God granted him the best of health throughout his life for which he was most thankful. He boasted in his later years, “I feel like forty!” As he slowed down in his farming, one of his greatest joys was running the combine saying, “This is the most fun I’ve ever had.” His greatest pride was to be a Kansas farmer from Decatur County. His greatest hope was that the Larson family farm, which began with his Swedish grandfather who homesteaded and lived in a dugout in the late 1880’s, would continue for generations to come.

After three and a half years residing in nursing homes, Wayne was called to his eternal rest on November 16, 2018. Besides his wife, Wayne’s parents and two sisters, Bernice Webb and Lorraine Dole, preceded him in death as well as son-in-law Norman Wendelin.
Wayne is survived by son and daughter-in-law Craig and Karen Larson, son and daughter-in-law Brad and Lesia Larson, and daughter Joanne Wendelin, all from Oberlin; daughter and son-in-law Bonnie and Bill Condit of Winfield and daughter and son-in-law Suzanne and Jay Cooper of Wichita. Wayne is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Monica Larson, Carl Larson, Marissa Robinson, Colby Larson, Ladd Wendelin, Greta Perel, Rory Wendelin, Ian Crane, Eowyn Crane, Erin Lofgreen, Jordan Condit; four step-grandchildren: Brock Cooper, Justin Cooper, Kimberly Wickersham, and Ryan Duysen; and fourteen great-grandchildren in addition to other relatives and friends.

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