Ruth LaVon (Paulsen) Larsen was born June 6, 1924 north of Beresford, South Dakota to Nels and Clara (Andersen) Paulsen. She died January 16, 2018 at Bethesda of Beresford at the age of 93 years, seven months and 10 days.

She was raised on the family farm with her brother and two sisters where she attended North Star country school. Ruth graduated from Beresford High School and worked in Beresford. She married Harvey Larsen on June 26, 1946. They farmed for many years and raised their two daughters, Diane and Jan. Ruth volunteered at Bethesda of Beresford and was known as the "cookie lady". She liked raising flowers and gardening.

Ruth loved being involved at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Beresford; she taught Sunday school, vacation bible school and the ladies aid. She later became a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church and liked serving with the ladies aid.

She is survived by her daughters, Diane (Gary) Lundberg of Beresford and Jan (Richard) Spaans of Sioux Falls; seven grandchildren, Brian (Emily) Spaans, Jessica Lundberg and Justin Jons, Bradley (Rebecca) Spaans, Melissa (Steve) Quick, Amy (Robert) Dravland, Erica Spaans and Andrea (Chase) Rydberg; eight great-grandchildren and her sister-in-law, Betty Paulsen. She is preceded in death by her husband, Harvey Larsen in 2008; brother, John Paulsen; and two sisters, Lucille (Clifton) Johnson and Marie (Orvin) Oien.

Funeral services will be 10AM Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford with visitation starting at 8:30AM. Burial will follow at Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery, rural Beresford.