Allen Larson
Allen R. Larson, Tuc-
son, Arizona, formerly of
Minot, has died from
complications of CO-
VID-19.
Allen was born in Thief
River Falls, MN, in 1931
to George Larson and Hul-
da (Torstveit) Larson.
He is survived by his
wife of 67 years, Patricia
(Burtness) Larson, 5 chil-
dren, 8 grandchildren and
7 great-grandchildren. He
is also survived by his sis-
ter, Dawne Gullard of
Thief River Falls.
Allen’s career spanned
six decades. He was a
farm laborer, a construc-
tion laborer, a station
agent for North Central
Airlines, a salesman, a
crop sprayer, a writer, and
more. In 1961 he took a
job with the Federal Avia-
tion Administration, and
moved his family to
Minot, ND. There he and
Patricia raised children
Kim, Michael, Francis,
Lisa and Carrie.
Allen owned several
businesses in the Magic
City, including Aero
Flight, where he flew
charters, air ambulance,
and was a flight instruc-
tor. He and his wife
managed the Avis Rental
car business at the Minot
airport for years, before
they bought a small neigh-
borhood grocery store.
North Hill Foods grew
and grew, until it became
the only supermarket on
the north side of town.
Allen’s civic involve-
ment included the PTA,
amateur hockey, Toast-
masters, and Minot Sym-
phony Orchestra. Allen
and Ralph Newman were
instrumental is establish-
ing Polaris Park on North
Hill. In 1971, he surprised
his friends and family by
enrolling at Minot State
College, where he studied
hard and challenged his
teachers with many ques-
tions for one year. He was
a lifelong learner, teach-
ing himself drawing,
painting, guitar, piano,
violin and cello, as well as
some German and Span-
ish. Allen was a great
fixer of machines, appli-
ances and houses.
In the 1960’s, he built a
swimming pool in his
backyard in north Minot.
It was extremely popular
with all the neighborhood
children.
In 1980, Allen and Pa-
tricia sold their house and
began a nomadic life in a
large travel trailer, along
with their youngest
daughter. They soon set-
tled in Tucson, AZ, travel-
ling in the summer time.
Allen took several jobs in
Tucson, finally as a
greeter at Frye’s. Many
customers still miss his
chatting and his help.
Allen will be remem-
bered by his employees,
colleagues, customers,
students, neighbors and
family as an honest,
creative, humorous man
with firm opinions and a
love for justice.