These stories can also be heard on Sunday mornings around 10 am on WILD 102’s “Look Back in Time” program. Each week’s radio story will be posted here on our website.
Weekly radio stories are researched, compiled, and read by Sheila Winstead, RCHS Board Member.
May 17, 2026
Forty years ago, Greenbush’s long-time veterinarian retired. The Greenbush Tribune of July 3, 1986, published this interview of the Larsons.
After 32 years, Dr. Allen F. Larson, DVM, and his wife, Carol, have retired.
The Larsons came to Greenbush in 1954 following his graduation from the University of Minnesota and started a veterinary practice. Having toured much of the state looking for a place to practice, they narrowed their choices to Morris, Mahnomen and Roseau. They eliminated Morris because the community already had a good veterinarian, so that left Mahnomen and Roseau. Then Mahnomen was eliminated and that left Roseau. However, upon getting to Roseau and talking to people, they found that Warroad had a veterinarian and that perhaps Roseau was too close, so they visited Greenbush, where they received a great deal of encouragement, and upon consideration of the advice they received, elected to start their practice in Greenbush, and as Dr. Larson said, “It turned out to be good advice.”
They purchased the former Sisler home and went to work. In 1957, they remodeled their home and built on a clinic and office. Carol took care of all the office work and continued to do that throughout the 32 years. Over those 32 years, she answered the telephone thousands of times. Even though so much of her time was needed to run the office and answer the phone, she still found time for their family and never had any help.
Dr. Larson, on the other hand, was always on the road, and over the 32 years, made somewhere between 50 and 60 thousand calls. He has driven over two million miles, very often on bad roads, and has gone through 32 different vehicles for business purposes.
Although he tried to limit his travel to a 40-mile radius, he often found himself answering calls in Kittson, Marshall, and Roseau Counties. Because of the great distances he had to travel, a better method of communication became necessary. In 1959, they installed a radio system that enabled Dr. Larson to remain in constant communication with Carol in the office. He said, “If it had not been for the radio system, I might have quit.”
Because the practice was a solo practice, and 24-hour emergency services were provided, it meant going out on calls late at night, on Sundays, and on holidays, even on Christmas. Carol recalled one Christmas in particular when Al made seven calls, but the nature of the business made this necessary, and in time simply became routine for the Larson family. As Dr. Larson pointed out, “People were very hospitable and after the work was done, I would be invited to the house. I drank a lot of coffee in a lot of homes and got a chance to know a lot of people, other than on a professional basis.”
In 1963, the Larsons sold their home to Dennis Olson and moved to the former Oscar Kjos farm. Over the years, they did extensive remodeling, built an office and a clinic, and added to the house. The huge yard, which is adorned with many beautiful trees and shrubs, is all the work of the Larsons. Al looks forward to spending a lot of time in his yard.
When asked about some of the things they remembered most, both Dr. Larson and Carol recalled the good things that happened, and most of all, the humorous things. They related one instance when an elderly gentleman with a very distinct Norwegian accent came to the office and told Carol he had a cow with sore teeth. Carol thinking he said sore teats, asked him if the cow had stepped on them. The gentleman didn’t think too much of this, so Carol told him Al was uptown at the time, and maybe he could talk to him. So the man found Al uptown, told him he had a cow with sore teeth, but Al too thought he said sore teats, and asked, “Did the cow step on them?”
When asked why he chose to become a veterinarian, Dr. Larson said, “It was something I wanted to do ever since I was a small boy.” Larson grew up on a small farm near Backus, Minnesota, and at the age of seven began raising sheep when his grandfather gave him one ewe. He cared for this ewe and in time built up a flock of 100 ewes. He stayed in the business for nearly 19 years, eventually selling the flock to his father. He also cut timber, which was sawed into lumber and sold. In 1941, Al graduated from high school. When World War II broke out in 1942, he joined the Navy and served until 1946. This, in a way, was the beginning of a dream come true, because now he was able to attend college under the G.I. Bill, which he felt he would never be able to afford before.
Carol grew up on a dairy farm near Ogilvie, Minnesota and milked a lot of cows by hand. Following the Larsons’ marriage, they lived in the Twin Cities, where Al went to College and Carol worked in the bookkeeping department for Mack Truck Company in St. Paul. After coming to Greenbush, Carol too was able to pursue her goal of running a business office. There was hardly ever a dull moment. Every day was different, different people, different problems, and all very interesting.
Next week, I’ll continue with the story of Doc and Carol Larson.
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