Eileen Larson was born on January 25, 1922, in a rural home near Barney, ND. She was the youngest of four children born to Vern and Rose Jenks.Eileen was raised on a farm near Barney and had fond memories of her childhood on the farm. Her parents instilled a firm foundation of faith in Jesus that carried her through many trials in her 98 years. She attended elementary school at Country Homestead. During her freshman year, she rode horse four miles to high school in Barney.  She had to leave the horse in a barn ¼ mile from town and walk the rest of the way. The horse was always a bit temperamental and liked to run, which didn’t bother her, but worried her dad, Vern. The remaining high school years were at Danton, a consolidated high school in rural Barney. Transportation then was by school bus, pulled by a team of horses.

A young hired hand, Dale Larson, captured her heart and they were married on February 15, 1939. They farmed several different rental farms in the Dickey and Ypsilanti areas until buying their own farm in Barnes County in 1951. She was a very capable farm wife, working side by side with Dale in whatever needed to be done. Neighbors enjoyed stopping at milking time just to see the foam rise in the pail while she milked a cow.

Eileen began work at the Fair Store in Jamestown in 1964. She learned the business quickly and was the manager of the store for many years. She especially liked working with the people and the buying markets in New York City.

On Saturday, April 18, 2020, Eileen passed away peacefully in her sleep at Eventide Nursing Home in Jamestown, ND.  She was 98 years old.  Eileen was preceded in death by her husband, Dale; daughter Sharon, son Rodney and daughter-in-law Janet; grandson Keith Freadhoff; sister Grace Dierke, and brother Emery Jenks.  Eileen is survived by her son, Roy Larson and wife DiAnne; one sister Verna Dunbar; grandchildren Kevin (Steph) Freadhoff, Beth (Jim) Yearley, Jeff (Katia) Larson, Mark (Mary Louise) Larson, Kelly (Tammy) Larson, Michele (Curt) Reese and Tamara (Steve) Lemmer; step-grandchildren Janice (Mike) Lawrence, Shelley (Jim) Husbands; several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her dear friend Bill Staloch and his family.

A private graveside service will be held at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Jamestown, ND. A celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date.  In the meantime, please leave memories and condolences on her Tribute Wall under her obituary at the Eddy Funeral Home website:  www.eddyfuneralhome.com