Norman J Larson
On the evening of October 13, 2025, Norm passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his wife and two sons after a brief battle with cancer. Norm was 85 years old.
Norm was born on April 8, 1940, in Williston, ND. He was the only child to Norman and Vernie Larson of Medicine Lake, Montana. His mother was a nurse, and father owned the hardware store and John Deere dealership in Medicine Lake while also farmed on the original Larson homestead outside of town.
Norm was very proud of his eastern Montana small-town roots and loved the community of Medicine Lake. He cherished those memories with his childhood friends and loved to tell stories about growing up there. After graduating from high school in 1958, Norm went to college at Montana State in Bozeman for one year and finished his degree at the University of Montana, always proud to be a Griz!
After graduating from UM with a degree in economics, Norm moved to Minneapolis to try his hand in banking before moving to Colorado. He played and worked in Aspen which is where he discovered his love for skiing, something that he would continue to do with his family until late in his life.
Norm joined the Marine Corps in 1963 and served his 6-year term. Thankfully he was never deployed to Vietnam. He was proud of his service, and told his family funny stories of running 10 miles for peach pie and participating in boot camp at Paris Island, South Carolina, a place he was not anxious to return to.
During his service he was primarily living in Denver, CO which was fortuitous because in 1967, he went on a blind date with a flight attendant for Continental Airlines. A match made in heaven as he and Sandra Frazier hit it off, and wedding bells rang in August 1968.
In 1972, the couple loaded their two-year old son Patrick into the car and moved to Helena as Norm had accepted a job as an economist with the State of Montana. In 1974, they became a four-some as they welcomed their second son, Andrew, into the family. Back in Montana for good, his love for the outdoors resumed where he and Sandee loaded their small dachshund dog, “Snitzie” into the jeep getting out of town most weekends. Not slowing down a bit, the years were filled with camping trips, pack trips into the “Bob”, skiing, and summer road trips in the Suburban.
Norm’s small-town roots led him to an opportunity to purchase the El Toro Motel in Havre, MT in 1976. Norm and Sandee commuted from Helena to Havre for nearly 40 years! In 1982 they started the construction of their dream house up Colorado Gulch. This would be a labor of love and their home for 37 years. So many great memories at the house with friends and family!
Norm was a passionate person and extremely loyal to his family and friends. He would do anything for Sandee and his kids, supporting them until the end. Besides his family, Norm loved watching football games, specifically the Bruins and Griz, and watching his grandchildren compete in various sports. His passion for small-town MT was still very evident on his last trip to Medicine Lake in August of 2025 to place flowers on his parent’s grave and take in the rolling hills of Eastern MT.
Norm is survived by his wife Sandee, sons Patrick and Andrew, daughter-in-law’s Maria and Kelli, grandchildren Jakub, Daniel, Averi, Sophie and Violet.
A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 14, 2025 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Avenue in Helena. A reception will follow in the social center of the funeral home. A private burial with family present will take place at Forestvale Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Pats Palliative Care at: https://foundation.providence.org/montana
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
11:00 a.m.
Friday November 14, 2025
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Immediately following his Celebration of Life
Friday November 14, 2025
Social Center of the Funeral Home
,
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
11:00 a.m.
Friday November 14, 2025
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Immediately following his Celebration of Life
Friday November 14, 2025
Social Center of the Funeral Home
,
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Bruce Mihelish says
Condolences to Sandy and family on your loss of Norm. You were all good neighbors from Colorado Gulch.
Dave Lewis says
Always enjoyed Norms stories about growing up in Northeastern Montana. A good man.
Rachel Young says
Pat and Family,
I’m so sorry to hear about your dad’s passing. You are all in my thoughts.
Jeff Ehlert says
To my second family, I will miss Norm as I fondly relive the many trips and holidays that we spent together. I love you all!