Dolores E. Larson, 88, of Volga, formerly of Sinai, died surrounded by her family on July 14, 2019, at Brookings Health System.  Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2019, at the Sinai Lutheran Church in Sinai, South Dakota, beginning at 3:00 p.m.  Burial will immediately follow the service at the East Sinai Cemetery in Sinai.  A time of visitation is planned for the evening prior, Friday, July 19, 2019, at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings, from 5 p.m. until 7  p.m.

Dolores Elizabeth Larson was born September 1, 1930, the daughter of Victor and Elizabeth Clement Langum in Arlington, South Dakota.  Dolores was baptized and confirmed at Sinai Lutheran Church.

Dolores and her siblings grew up in the Lake Sinai area, enjoying the pleasures of a rural lifestyle and close community, with strong ties to her faith, family and friends. A significant highlight was receiving electricity on the farm during her high school years.

Dolores was educated in a one-room schoolhouse and graduated as Salutatorian of Sinai High School.  She went on to obtain her teaching certificate at General Beadle State Teachers College in Madison, SD.  She taught at one-room schools for District 23 and Bangor 3.  Her father transported her daily by tractor to school at Bangor 3, where she taught, caught mice and tended the coal-fired furnace. 

Dolores married her high school sweetheart and lifetime love, Charles N. Larson of Sinai, on October 28, 1951, at Sinai Lutheran Church.  Together they journeyed to Albuquerque, NM, and welcomed their first child, Sherry, into the world.  Their Air Force tour took them to Casablanca, Africa, where their second child, Kathie, was born.  They returned to the family farm in South Dakota, and Dolores and Charles welcomed their third child, Jane, in Volga, and their son, Tom, in Brookings.

Charles and Dolores spent 64 amazing years together farming, serving their community, taking trips to visit friends and family, enjoying musical entertainment and caring for their children and their families. Their 10 grandchildren were their utmost priority and could always count on their attendance at school programs and sporting events, high school and college graduations, confirmations, baptisms, and weddings. In addition to assisting with the farm operation, Dolores worked as a secretary for the Dean of Arts and Sciences at South Dakota State University and was an employee at 3M for six years. 

Dolores was dedicated to serving others through the American Legion Auxiliary, the Women of the ELCA, and volunteering at Sinai Lutheran Church.  With a true gift of hospitality, Dolores opened her home to everyone.  A line in the poem “Attitude” by Charles Swindoll –  “The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day” –reflected her positive outlook on life.

Dolores is survived by her four children – Sherry (Tom) DeBoer of Chaska, MN; Kathie (her late husband Glen) Aasheim of Bozeman, MT; Jane (Al) Perry of Bruce; and Tom (Sharon) Larson of Sinai; her grandchildren – Nick (Maryam) DeBoer, Heather (Tom) MacPherson, Adrienne (Scott) Fox, Tiffany (Stuie) Lewis, Allison (Jesse) Saathoff, Lars Phillips, Kaitlin Phillips, Hannah Phillips, Matthew Larson and Michael Larson; eight great-grandchildren; and her sister Lorna (Albert) Wangberg.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, her parents, Victor and Elizabeth Langum, and her siblings, Dale and Robert Langum.