Lyle Larson

Cottage Grove- Lyle L. Larson, age 84 years, passed away on May 18, 2012 at Skaalen Home in Stoughton. He was born July 21, 1927 to Leslie and Emma (Brandt) Larson of McFarland. Lyle married Elsie Howery on October 9, 1948 in Cross Plains. Lyle was a businessman all his life. After serving two years in the U.S. Navy, he went into partnership in a grocery store in his hometown of McFarland. Later he worked for Gerber Foods and Red Dot Foods. In 1960, Lyle and Dan Herbeck built and operated Badger Bowl in Stoughton. He built, owned, and operated the N & I-90 Tour Center truck stop with gas station, wrecker service, and restaurant. With Larson Oil Company, Lyle provided gas and bulk oil to other stations, farmers, and fuel for home furnaces. His final business adventure was Larson's Self Service in McFarland. He enjoyed every bit of his work. Lyle was on the Skaalen Home board and served his church, West Koshkonong, in many ways. Lyle was a great dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa. The kids will miss him, as we all will. Lyle is survived by his wife, Elsie; two sons, Kim (Karen) and Jim (Mike); daughter, Laurie (Tom Downs); and daughter-in-law, Bev Larson. He is further survived by nine grandchildren, Josh, Heath (Matt), Jason, Jamie Cummings (Dave), Heather Olson (Travis), Andy (Sherry) Vinmans, Sarah (Bryan) Sonneberg, and Austin and Allison Downs; 11 great-grandchildren, Jasmine, Ashlee, Landon, Kyle, A.J., Mason, Ian, Mallory, Miley, Caleb, and Claudia; sister-in-law, Jacqueline Howery; aunt, Dorothy Larson; many other family and friends in Wisconsin; and his "Snow Birds" friends and family from Florida and other states. Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Joseph, granddaughter, Amber Brooke, and several friends and relatives. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 24, 2012 at West Koshkonong Lutheran Church, Stoughton, with Pastor Richard Dowling officiating. Burial will follow in West Koshkonong Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at Cress Funeral Home in Stoughton and from 10 AM until the time of services at church Thursday. Memorials may be made to West Koshkonong Steeple Fund, Agrace Hospice, Skaalen Home, or a charity of your choosing. Special thanks to Pastor Dowling, Lyle's caretakers from Agrace Hospice and the Friendship Circle at Skaalen Home, and "Taxi Men" Mike and Tom.