Leland Larson

Leland ?Mert? Larson Leland W. ?Mert? Larson, age 78, of Alexandria, died June 23, 2011, at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. Mert was born in Alexandria, Minnesota, on May 25, 1933, the son of Theodore and Clara (Sund) Larson. He was baptized in Alexandria, attended local schools and graduated from Alexandria High School. During his high school years he participated in athletics Alexandria. He enlisted in the United State military and served Stateside and in Cuba in the early 1950s. He served in an armored tank division and was Honorably Discharged. Upon returning to Alexandria he was united in marriage to Edith Webskowski on July 21, 1956. To this couple six girls were born, Kathy, Sandy, Sherry, Laurie, Brenda, and Dawn. Mert worked in appliance repair and sales. He worked at Norb?s Repair, Husted?s, Sears, and finally became owner/operator of Mert?s Appliances. He later went into the sales and service of grain dryers working with the John Lenz and Sons Company. In 1978 Mert purchased the company and operated it until 1990 when he left to become President at Greenworld, a fish-fertilizer company in Brandon. During his work years he also worked as a Deputy Water Patrol and always enjoyed serving as a fishing guide to area vacationers. More than anything, however, Mert enjoyed being with his family. He had an uncanny ability to make each of his daughter?s believe that they were his favorite. According to his daughters, he carried that tradition on with his grandchildren. Mert introduced all of his children and grandchildren to nature. He is survived by his wife, Edith Larson of Alexandria, daughers Kathy (Lonnie) Berger of Fergus Falls, Sandy Larson of Alexandria, Sherry (Robert) Krueger of Maple Grove, Laurie (Joe) Potocnik of Mahtomedi, Brenda (Jeff) Boehler of Plymouth, and Dawn (John) Willar of Maple Grove. Also surviving are grandchildren Amy Berger, Allison Tenge, Aaron Berger, Alisa Rolands, Annie Berger, Kaitlynn Krueger, Matthew Potocnik, Michael Potocnik, Alexandra Boehler, Daniel Willar, and Katie Willar, great-grandchildren Carter Tenge and Kellen Tenge and a sister, LaDonna Keljik of St. Paul. Funeral Mass was held on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at the St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Alexandria, Minnesota with Rev. Steven Binsfeld officiating. Interment was in the St. Mary?s Cemetery in Alexandria with Lonnie Berger, Robert Krueger, Joe Potocnik, Jeff Boehler, John Willar, and Aaron Berger serving as pallbearers. All of the grandchildren served as Honorary Pallbearers/ Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. www.andersonfuneral.net