Carol P. (Graver) Larson

Carol Patricia (Graver) Larson was born June 19, 1942 in Ainsworth, NE to Russell and Elizabeth “Betty” (Robinson) Graver. She had two older sisters, Bev and Lorene. She attended a one-room school house in Brown County and graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1960. After graduation, she attended summer school at Chadron State College, continuing her education thru correspondence classes. Carol taught at several rural Brown and Cherry county schools.

On August 28, 1960, she married Albert A. Larson in Ainsworth. To this union one daughter, Karan Marie was born in November of 1961.

After teaching for several years, they moved back to the Graver Family Ranch where Carol grew up, to raise their family and operate the ranch. In later years Carol started working at the Ainsworth Public Library and the Sellors Barton Museum. She worked there for more than 20 years.

Carol was never idle. She filled her free time with being involved in many clubs and organizations. Some of those included art club and historical societies, the Red Hats and ABC Club. She also stayed busy with her many hobbies of bird watching, playing cards, Rummikub, pitch, marbles, and her love of genealogy. It was not uncommon to find her walking through a small cemetery to research the genealogy for a family after receiving a phone call from afar. She was constantly studying new things, signing up for Adult Ed classes, even in her 80’s wanting to learn Spanish.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Betty; sisters, Beverly Luse and Lorene Kelley; husband, Albert; brothers-in-law, Ney Luse, George Larson and wives, Sharon and Virginia, Darold Larson, Norman Larson and wife Sharon, Terry Larson and wife Sharon, Pete Troy and Walter Larson. Carol is survived by her daughter, Karan (Dave) Clay of Long Pine, NE; granddaughters, Saresse (Levi) Hollenbeck and Katrina (Wyatt) Croghan all of Bassett, NE and great-grandchildren Brylee and Blake Croghan; brothers-in law, Kent Kelley of Winter Park, FL, Jim (Marie) Larson of Springview, NE, and Lloyd (Betty) Larson of Newport, NE; and sisters-in-law, Dorothy Larson of Springview, Lois Troy of Lincoln, NE, and Vicki Larson of Springview; along with several nieces, nephews and a host of friends. 

Funeral Service was held on Friday, October 25, 2024 at the Ainsworth Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Charles Kieffer as officiant. CD Selections played were “In The Garden” and “Old Rugged Cross” by Alan Jackson and “What A Day That Will Be” by Jim Hill. The obituary was read by Saresse Hollenbeck. Casketbearers were: Wyatt Croghan, Levi Hollenbeck, Brian Frick, Troy Larson, Cole Swanson and Cuyver Swanson. Honorary Casketbearers were: All Of Carol’s Other Family, Friends & Club Members. Burial followed in Grandview Cemetery at Long Pine. Memorials were to be directed to the family for future designation or the Brown County Historical Society. Hoch Funeral Home in Ainsworth was in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.