Gay Larsen

Bismarck

Gay Larsen, 65, Bismarck, ND, formerly of Kenmare, ND, passed away, August 7, 2025.

Gay Martha Gravesen was born in Kenmare, ND on August 10, 1959, to Marvin and Irene (Hansen) Gravesen. She was raised and educated in Kenmare and graduated from Kenmare High School in 1978.

She married Tracy Larsen in August of 1978. Gay and Tracy welcomed their son Joel in 1979. Gay worked at the Kenmare Baptist Home for 26 years, where she worked as a housekeeper, dietary aide, and med aide.

Gay loved children and babysat many, while in Kenmare. She loved to visit and would talk with anyone. She so enjoyed shopping, never passing up a thrift store or garage sale.

Tracy passed away May 13, 1996. Gay continued working at the Kenmare Baptist Home. It was there that she met Steven Nelson. They married in April of 2001. Steven passed away June 3, 2010.

Gay lived in Bismarck, ND for a few years, where she worked at Sanford Medical Center. She later moved to Minot, where she worked at Edgewood. Gay loved her work and the residents at each facility. In October 2016 Gay was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. She continued to live in Minot, eventually becoming a resident at Edgewood. In September 2022, she moved to the Benedictine Living Community in Bismarck. Gay made many friends at each facility. She faced her cancer with courage and grace. Her resilience was inspiring. No matter how difficult life became, she always had a positive attitude and a smile on her face. May her memory be a source of inspiration for all who knew and loved her.

We would like to thank the doctors and their teams at Trinity Cancer Care Center, Minot. University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Sanford Medical Center, Bismarck and Sanford Medical Center, Fargo for their exceptional care of Gay the past nine years. Their care and Gay’s determination gave us many more days with her. We would also like to thank all the staff at Edgewood Minot and the Benedictine Living Community in Bismarck for their wonderful care, while giving Gay a safe place to live independently. She truly enjoyed and appreciated it. Last but not least, we thank Caring Edge Hospice for their care and compassion.

Her loving family includes: son, Joel Larsen; niece, Michele (Jim) Marshall; nephews, Andy (Cassy) Steinbaugh, Justin Potter, Tyler (Amanda) Gravesen, Kyle (Vanessa) Gravesen, Nolan (Lexy) Johnson, and Kevin Johnson; brothers, Kenny Gravesen, and Gary (Charlene) Gravesen; sisters, Bev (Rex) Steinbaugh, Linda Potter, and Gayle (Dennis) Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Tracy Larsen; husband, Steven Nelson; father and mother-in-law, Dwain and Diann Larsen; brother-in-law, Jim Potter; nephew, Chris Steinbaugh; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Funeral: Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Nazareth Lutheran Church, Kenmare.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service.

Interment: Ebenezer Lutheran Cemetery, rural Flaxton, ND.

Visitation: Tuesday one hour prior to the service at Nazareth Lutheran Church, Kenmare.

The service will be livestreamed.

(Arrangements with Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot)

Published by The Minot Daily News, August 11, 2025