Carol Larsen

Carol Leone was born to Harold & Alice Zimmerman on March 11th, 1932, joining siblings Walt, Dwight, & Margaret.  She grew up in Menahga, Minnesota enjoying the surrounding forests and plentiful lakes.  Not one to stay inside much, Carol was always out playing with friends which resulted in numerous legendary adventures.  She attended all 12 grades in the same school building and was especially encouraged by her junior high Swedish math teacher (which prompted her to dream of marrying a Swedish math teacher). During high school she became best friends with Carol Cedar & was impressed by the love she saw in the Cedar home.  Mrs. Cedar explained that the source of this was Jesus Christ.   Carol’s life completely changed at this point as she chose to receive Christ’s forgiveness & follow Him.  She would later share that this was the defining moment of her life.  Mrs. Cedar gave her the verse Ephesians 3:20: “God is able to do infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us.”  This became a testimony of God’s work in & through her life.

Graduating in the class of 1950, Carol went on to Bemidji State Teacher’s College.  She began her teaching career in Duluth, transferred to Alexandria, and then followed her entire family as they moved to southern California.   Through a Christian teachers’ association, she met Al Larsen (a Swedish math teacher!).  They were engaged on the top of Mt. San Jacinto (Al was a mountaineer and had to be sure she could keep up!) & married December 22, 1962.  They moved into their new home in Altadena, a wonderful place to host friends and to hike up the “back trail” into the nearby mountains. Soon Carol delighted in her new role of motherhood with the births of Ann & David.  The family enjoyed many adventures together in the outdoors—something which became a hallmark of who they were.  In 1969 they traveled to Musoma, Tanzania where Al taught math in a boys’ school.  They traveled the country with relatives Dorothy and George Smoker who were missionaries nearby & climbed Kilimanjaro.  This time in Africa impacted them for the rest of their lives.

When they returned to California, Carol involved herself in her kids’ schools and in leading Bible studies at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, CA.  As the kids grew, camping and backpacking trips were plentiful and any willing friends were brought along.  During this time, Carol and Al met a group of couples in Bible study who would become life-long friends, camping & traveling, and raising their kids together.   The Larsen family also traveled to Hawaii frequently, visiting Al’s relatives and enjoying the islands where he had grown up.  Once her kids were in high school, Carol returned to teaching and then joined a new ministry called “Focus on the Family” where she answered letters for Dr. James Dobson and eventually managed a group of writers who did the same.  In retirement, Carol & Al enjoyed many trips together with their trailer.  The family grew as David married Dora Habel and Ann married Bill Crump.  Soon Carol found herself delighting in her new role as grandmother to 5 fun kids:  Matthew, Jacob, and Joshua Larsen and Daniel and Amy Crump.  Eventually both families moved to Colorado and when Al was ready to hang up his surfboard, he and Carol followed.

Carol’s last season was spent taking in the beautiful Colorado mountains and enjoying her kids and grandkids.  Tea parties & Starbucks runs were plentiful as was attending various school events. She rejoiced in the addition of a new granddaughter-in-law when Daniel married Kassandra Krohn.  As health issues limited her hiking abilities, she still relished drives into the beautiful high country.  Throughout her life, she made numerous friends and continued this in her homes at Concordia by the Lake and Morningstar of Littleton.  Her love for Jesus and love of people were contagious aspects of who she was…. Along with a fun, playful side that enjoyed being silly, dancing, & making people laugh.  Carol stepped into heaven on March 1st, 2023 when Jesus took her home. Truly God fulfilled her life verse from Ephesians—He did infinitely more than all she could have ever asked or imagined as He worked in and through Her life.

Carol’s earthly “tent” will be interred privately at Ft. Logan National Cemetery beside her beloved Al.  A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 2:30 pm at Morningstar Littleton. Memorial contributions may be made to Sports Outreach at sportsoutreach.net