Services for Leola “Lee” Larsen, age 95, of Wayne will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 27 at Greenwood Cemetery in Wayne. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne.
She died Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026 at River view Health Care Center in Flandreau, South Dakota.
Memorials may be directed to Grace Lutheran Church and the Wayne Senior Center.
Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home in Wayne.
Leola Barbara (Lee) Larsen was born Aug. 20, 1931 in Pierce County, the daughter of Joseph Ernest and Martha Sophia (Kortje) Wagner. She was baptized and confirmed at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Norfolk, She also attended parochial school from the third through the eighth grades. She graduated from Norfolk High School in 1949 and Norfolk Junior College in 1951 with an Associate of Arts degree in education. On June 3, 1951 Lee married Don “Blackie” Larsen at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Norfolk. The couple farmed in Wayne County until 1966, and she taught in rural schools. While living in Winside, Lee graduated from Wayne State College in 1971, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education.
In 1976, the couple moved to Wayne where she worked in the nursing department for over 24 years at Providence Medical Center, retiring in 2000.
She enjoyed reading library books, quilting at the Senior Center, gardening, doing family history research and spending time with family and friends.
Lee’s family includes her daughter, Brenda Larsen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; son, Roger (Eve) Larsen of Randolph; three grandchildren, Christie Larsen of Randolph, Kevin (Heidi) Larsen of Norfolk and Barbara Larsen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; three great-grandchildren, Alison Korth, Kenna Nutzman and Kaden Nutzman; nieces; nephews; and cousins.
Preceding Lee in death were her parents; husband, Don “Blackie” on Dec. 7, 2000; an infant sister; grandson, Brandon Larsen; four brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law; two nephews and one niece.
