Dallas I. Larsen
Dallas I. Larsen
Dallas I. Larsen, 61 of Scottsbluff, Neb. died Jan. 30, 2004 at Regional West Medical Center. Memorial services were held Feb. 3, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at the Mitchell Event Center in Mitchell with Pastor Dale Brown officiating. Cremation was at Sunset Memorial Park Crematory. Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Memorials can be made to the Scotts Bluff County Ag Society and South Dakota State University.
Dallas Larsen was born on Dec. 29, 1942 in Mitchell, S. D. to William and Anna Larsen. Dallas grew up with his sister, Viva Hope and brothers, Rod and Steve, on the family farm. Dallas's interest in the cattle business became apparent at a young age. Dallas attended school in Kimball, S.D. and went on to college at South Dakota State University where he was active on the judging team. He received his Bachelor's degree in Animal Science in 1964. After college, Dallas started his career in the livestock business as a meat grader for John Morrell in Rapid City, S.D. He then became a buyer for Black Hills Pack, and was transferred to buy in the Scottsbluff area.
Dallas met and married Patti Hamburger, his wife-to-be, at Platte Valley Livestock, thanks to an introduction from her mother, Audrey Hamburger; both were working at the sale barn at the time. Dallas and Patti were married on Sept. 15, 1968; it only seemed appropriate for such a fine cattleman to marry a Hamburger. They welcomed their first son, Matt, in 1970 and their daughter, Missy, in 1973. In 1975 Dallas and Patti moved to their home north of Scottsbluff and started Larsen Livestock. Their son, Lex, joined the family in 1979 and daughter, Erica in 1980. After 35 years together, Dallas and Patti raised their four children and saw many dreams come true on that little (now not so little) feedlot north of Scottsbluff.
Larsen Livestock changed to Larsen Feeding Corporation as the couple branched out into many aspects of the cattle business, including running Larsen's Duck Creek Ranch in Lusk, Wyo. In 2001, their son, Lex, came back after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to help manage the business.
Throughout the years, Dallas always pursued his second love (to Patti, of course) which was buying cattle. He was a regular at many sale barns in Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming - we hope you'll keep a seat open for him. Dallas was very active in the community. He worked for many years on the Scottsbluff County Ag Society and worked hard to make sure the Scottsbluff County Fair had the nicest facilities in Western Nebraska. He also created and orchestrated the Rubber Check Race at the fair, which has been a main event for many years.
Dallas is preceded in death by his mother Anna Larsen.
He is survived by his wife, Patti; his children; Matt and Monique Larsen of Scottsbluff. Chad, Melissa and Page Schneider (granddaughter) of Torrington, Lax Larsen and fianc? Jennifer Reifschneider of Scottsbluff and Erica Larsen of Phoenix, AZ, father William Larsen of Kimball, S.D.; sister Viva Hope Leonard of Bison, S.D.; brothers Rod and Steve Larsen both of Kimball, S.D.