RITA A. LARSON

A Funeral Mass for Rita Ann Larson, 88, who passed away Sunday, January 28, 2018 in Indianola, IA, will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, February 1 at St. Augustine's Catholic Church in Milo, IA.  The visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. with a Rosary service at 10:15 a.m., Thursday at the church. Cremation will follow services and inurnment of cremains will be at a later date in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery at Van Meter, IA.
Rita was born in Fonda, IA on October 12, 1929 to Joseph and Cleo (Nixon) Bradford. Rita was 4th of 9 children and was proud of her farm life upbringing and Irish Catholic heritage. She graduated from Iowa Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA and taught 2nd grade in Bayard, IA.

She was married to Charles E. Larson on August 21, 1954. They lived primarily in the midwest including Minneapolis, MN, Chicago, IL and Indianola, IA before retiring to Phoenix, AZ in 1988. They were married for 46 years before Charles passed away in 1990. Rita's hobbies include baking, antiquing, discussing politics and traveling. She especially enjoyed her trip to Ireland with her siblings. Her favorite things were church, family and a big bowl of ice cream.

They had six children, Kerry (Lisa) Larson, Ann Arbor, MI, Kristi (Gerald) Judkins, Lacona,IA, Lori (Tim) Bernsdorf, Ankeny, IA, Lisa (John) Maller, Davenport, IA, John Larson, Sea Cliff, NY, and Jo Ann (Dan) Olson, Urbandale, IA; 14 grandchildren, Jeremy, Jacki, Amanda, Ben, Danny, Matthew, Megan, Michael, Adam, Collin, Lucas, Maya, Drew and Chloe; one great-grandchild, Olen; siblings, Eileen Bradford, Coon Rapids, IA, Virginia (Neil) Fitzmorris, Pacific Palisades, CA, Jim (Mary) Bradford, Guthrie Center, IA and Madonna Hosch, Elkader, IA.

Rita was preceded death by her husband; parents; siblings,  Dr. Francis Bradford, Fr. Jack Bradford, Sr., Jeanine Bradford and Edward Bradford; brothers-in-law, James Hosch, Elmer, Ernest, Donald, Maurice, Vilas, Gordon and Ralph Larson; and sisters-in-law, Alice Rood, Eva Kinseth and Florence Nye.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Augustine's Catholic Church.