Rev. Paul Larson

Fr. Paul John Larson, age 64, died Tuesday, January 19, 2016, at Essentia St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, MN. Father Larson was born April 28, 1951, in Duluth, Minnesota to Paul and Rosemary (Rodgers) Larson. Father Larson attended Hibbing schools and graduated from Hibbing High School in 1969.  He attended college at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, graduating with a B.A. in Government in 1973.  He was employed in the track department on the Burlington Northern Railroad from 1970-1977.  He worked there throughout his college and post-graduate career.  In 1974, he began First Theology at St. John’s and eventually was ordained to the Diaconate in 1977.  He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Paul Anderson at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hibbing, MN on June 22, 1979.  Since 1983 Father Larson had been involved in Indian Ministry until the present.  He received certification in Native American Ministry from the Sioux Spiritual Center.

In his many years of faithful service, Father Paul served at St. Anthony, Ely; St. Charles, Cass Lake; St. Anne, Bena; St. Benedict, Duluth; Mary Immaculate, Coleraine; St. Paul, Warba; St. Mary, Marble; St. Joseph, Taconite; St. Mary Star of the Sea, Duluth; St. Peter, Duluth; Our Lady of Mercy, Duluth; St. Mary, Deer River; St. Augustine, Cohasset; St. Joseph, Ball Club; Sacred Heart, Federal Dam; Holy Family, McGregor and Our Lady of Fatima, McGrath.

Father Larson enjoyed taking groups into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for studies in nature as well as spirituality.  He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and harvester of wild rice, and at one time he also trapped beaver.  Fr. Paul found that intertwining the natural phenomena as well as the Church’s style of spirituality seemed to help young people to become more involved with their communities of faith.  He always felt blessed to have had the opportunity to learn from his native friends and share in their connectedness to the Great Spirit and all the gifts that God the Great Sprit continues to shower on us.

Fr. Larson is survived by his sister, Judy Larson, Side Lake, MN; a nephew, Nathan Hartje, Denver, CO; a niece, Hilary Hartje, St. Louis, MO; and his cousins: Beatrice Rodgers, Greenbelt, MD, Barbara (Mark) Plys, Hibbing, William (Barb) Rodgers, Phoenix, AZ, Patsy (Jerry) Vicari, St. Cloud, MN, and Mary Kay (Stanley) Venne, Minneapolis, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Larson in 1972, and Rosemary Helen (Rodgers) Larson in 2002.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 25, 2016, at 11 AM in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Hibbing.  Visitation will be from 5-7pm, Sunday, January 24, 2016, at Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing with Wake Prayers at 6:30pm.  The visitation will continue in Blessed Sacrament Church on Monday from 10 AM until the 11 AM funeral Mass.  Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Duluth.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Diocese of Duluth Indian Ministry.  Arrangements are with Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.

To leave a message of condolence, please visit us at www.doughertyofhibbing.com .