QUINTEN LARSEN obituary

Quinten R. Larsen, 85, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005, at a Shelby nursing home.

The funeral service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the Galata Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at the Galata Cemetery.

Quinten was born Feb. 19, 1919, at Galata. He was the only son of four children born to Joseph and Lovisa (Hatteberg) Larsen, who had homesteaded in the north Galata community. Quinten attended local schools and graduated from Shelby High School in 1936.

He continued his education at Montana State University in Bozeman, where he completed a comprehensive course in agricultural studies. Quinten later returned to the Hi-Line, where he farmed and raised registered Columbia sheep.

Quinten met his wife-to-be, Julia C. Kasel, in the summer of 1950. They were married on Sept. 28, 1950, at Shelby. They made their home on the Larsen farm north of Galata,

where they raised six children. Quinten

bought a ranch near the Sweet Grass Hills and operated an Angus cattle business there for 20 years. He sold the ranch in the 1970s, but continued to farm near Galata.

Julia died on Aug. 19, 2000, and Quinten moved to an assisted-living facility in Shelby. When his health began to fail in the summer of 2004, he transferred to the Marias

Care Center.

The Larsens were an inseparable couple who were well-known in the Hi-Line community from Shelby to Chester. Always sociable and friendly, they attended many weddings, funerals and other functions during their married life. In their later years, they enjoyed attending all of the events of their grandchildren.

Quinten was a life member of the Galata Lutheran Parish and had served on the church council in many capacities. He was also an active member of the Democratic Party and had worked on various county committees. In addition, he served on numerous boards over the years, most notably the P.C.A. of Conrad.

One of Quinten's greatest enjoyments was his work as a Boy Scout master. He always looked forward to the camping expeditions and working with the youth. He was proud

to have helped many boys attain the rank of Eagle Scout, including his son, Joe.

Quinten was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and a sister, Alvina Flage.

He is survived by: sisters, Joyce Dye of Shelby and LouAnn Burd of Galata; five daughters, Catherine Eklund of Shelby, Betty Dickison of Paris, Ill., Rita Hegland (Doug) of Whitefish, Ann Vraa (Duane) of Shelby, and Tammie Dibblee (Jeff) of Havre; a son, Joe Larsen (Barb) of Galata; 17 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Undesignated memorials can be given

to the Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp.

Arrangements were by Rockman Funeral

Chapel of Chester.