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April 24, 1945-Aug. 9, 2026
La Quinta, California
Dr. Terry James Larsen, 81, of La Quinta, California passed peacefully away at his home on August 9th, 2026, surrounded by his immediate family -- husband and partner of 41 years, Chip (Lonnie) Hilliard; daughter Stephanie Larsen; son-in-law Paul Aguirre; and grandson Zachary Goodman. August 9th was also the wedding anniversary of Terry and Chip.
Terry had suffered for more than a year from the ravages of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. He fought a courageous battle against the disease, enduring two separate surgeries and three hospitalizations, including radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
On a happier note, Terry will forever cherish his summers spent at the family vacation home on Lake Metigoshe at the North Dakota/Canadian border. He was a champion water skier on the Club de Skinautique (a joint American/Canadian ski club), where he was elected President. The club performed aquatic shows throughout the Upper Midwest.
Terry will always be remembered for an enduring legacy of educational advancement and opportunity for all public school students. From his beginnings as an elementary school teacher in Minot, North Dakota to a career at the State Department of Education in Denver, Colorado and an Educational Administrator in California's Alhambra Unified School District as Director of Special Projects, Terry worked tirelessly to expand access to programs that would benefit every student.
Terry's visionary goals garnered admiration and accolades from his peers. He was elected President of the California Association of Administrators of State and Federal Education Programs, and, in that capacity, sought to secure more educational funding for California public school students.
One of Terry's greatest professional strengths as Director of Special Projects in Alhambra was strict adherence to state and federal compliance standards, both legally and financially. His steadfast vigilance resulted in Alhambra Unified School District becoming an outstanding example of fiscal and legal accountability in the state. The School District was never "out of compliance" during Terry's tenure.
Terry will also be remembered for his philanthropy. Besides assisting family members with college tuition, he will provide scholarships to deserving graduate students at both the University of Colorado/Boulder (where he obtained his Doctorate in Educational Administration) and the University of Colorado/Denver.
Besides the immediate family mentioned above, Terry is survived by a sister, Connie Larsen, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He is revered by all.
Terry's service is set for 10:00 am Saturday, Aug. 22 at Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks and Mortuaries in Cathedral City, California.
Published by The Minot Daily News, August 22, 2026.