Margaret “Peggy” Larson

Peggy is survived by her three children; daughter Sigrid (Dave) Redpath of Edina, MN, and sons Howard T. (Sue) Larson and Ed (Brandi) Larson both of Fort Dodge; grandchildren Matt, Liv, Elijah, Nick, and Kjell, and great-grandsons Myles and Kyler. Peggy was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Howard Lee Larson, her parents Thomas Burke and Evelyn Crandall Burke Drasky, her sister Patricia (Patsy) Benson, and brothers Tom, Charlie, Jerry and Dennis Burke.

Margaret “Peggy” Evelyn Burke was born on September 27, 1929, in Fort Dodge. She attended Fort Dodge schools and graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High in 1947. After graduation Peggy worked for 10 years at several Fort Dodge businesses. She was a gifted typist and excelled at shorthand and dictation, becoming a teller and secretary at the Union Trust and Savings Bank. On July 5, 1958, she married Howard Lee Larson at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, and they made their home in Fort Dodge. After the birth of her children, Peggy became a homemaker, and so much more.

Peggy's family came first, and her children were her first priority. She encouraged learning of all kinds and strongly believed in the power of reading. She read aloud nightly to her growing kids — a tradition she continued with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her home abounds with wonderful children's books. She supported and dove into her children's interests, encouraging them as they explored music lessons, band, art, sports, and travel abroad. She also led them on many expeditions to local ponds and parks to learn about insects and wildlife. As a beloved Camp Fire Girls leader, she led many excursions and art projects.

Peggy was extremely creative, pursuing artistic endeavors throughout her life. She was a skilled seamstress who could create a lined, tailored suit and sewed her daughter's school dresses through junior high. She was an avid knitter and crocheter, and also made many hand-hooked wool rugs. Peggy loved to bake, and was still making her beloved caramel rolls and batches of home-made strawberry jam at age 94, in her own kitchen.

Her greatest artistic love, however, was her work with calligraphy (hand-lettering) and paper arts. In 1979, Peggy became interested in hand-lettering with ink and an angled pen, which became a deep passion. At first self-taught, Peggy eventually traveled to Seattle, Minnesota, and Ames to attend advanced classes, and became an extremely skilled scribe. She paired this interest with other loves — marbling paper, watercolor painting, carving stamps from erasers, and using dyes. She hand-lettered many posters, invitations, and poems, and if you were fortunate enough to receive one of her hand-made cards, you are holding a true work of art. Peggy also created many sets of hand-embellished wooden alphabet blocks. She enjoyed creating paper art until very recent days.

A self-proclaimed homebody, Peggy preferred home to travels. However, in later life she overcame her fear of flying and at age 84 took her first airline flight! She flew to see her granddaughter in opera performances in Cambridge, MA, followed by trips to New York City and Los Angeles. On each trip, she explored the city on foot and took in many sights.

Peggy was blessed with good health and a sharp mind her entire life. She continued to live independently in her own home until her death, where she loved greeting family, creating art, gardening, and daily walks. Peggy could be seen until last fall walking her neighborhood, and in the winter months she walked at Target, often spotting great deals!

Peggy was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and a member of National Calligraphy Guilds. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, and will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Wounded Warrior Project, The Special Olympics or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.