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 24, 2026
Last week I started reading from an article in the Greenbush Tribune in 1986, as the town Veterinarian, Dr. Allen Larson, and his wife Carol were retiring after 32 years of caring for the animals of our region. Here is the rest of the story.
Over the years the Larsons thought of moving on at least three different occasions but always elected to remain in Greenbush. As Carol said, “We have spent virtually our entire adult lives here and now Greenbush is our home. We deeply appreciate the community and particularly the people. There have been some bad times, but mostly it has been very good.”
Now that the Larsons have decided to retire, they will have the freedom to do more traveling, which is something they enjoy. Having already been to Europe, South Africa, China and South America, they are experienced travelers and now would like to visit Alaska, Australia, Taiwan, Japan and other areas. In addition, Al has expressed a desire to play more golf, fish and work in his yard. He said, “Carol will have to learn to drive the boat, so I can water ski.” Carol, too, is looking forward to being able to do things that she was unable to do before.
The Larsons will continue to make their home in Greenbush. They have always appreciated the area and have a lot of good friends here. Both Al and Carol said, “We have had several opportunities to leave and were free to do so, but so far we haven’t found a better place to live. Greenbush is our home.”
The Veterinary practice has now been taken over by Dr. Lyle Mattson and the Larsons are looking forward to their retirement. We wish them many enjoyable years.
To follow up on the Larsons, I found Dr. Larson’s obituary on his FindAGrave record. He died on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at Karlstad Senior Living in Karlstad, MN. Burial was in Bethel Lutheran Cemetery in Greenbush with Military Honors provided by Moen-Zimek Post 88, American Legion of Greenbush.
It said that he and Carol had been married on Christmas Day in 1950 and had two children, Paul and Patricia. Their son Paul preceded them in death in 1999 from being in a car crash.
His years in the U S Navy were spent as a motor machinist on a mine sweeper.
The obituary listed his community involvements, including being on the Greenbush Community Hospital Board from 1955 to 1973, and being chairman of the board when the Nursing Home was built. He served as Mayor of Greenbush from 1958 to 1960 during which time the land for Oak View Golf Course was purchased.
He was a member of the American Veterinary Medical Assn., and The Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, and Bethel Lutheran Church.
Retirement was busy also, spending time with their children, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, planting trees, gardening, and caring for his lawn. He enjoyed fishing and water-skiing with Paul and the grandchildren. He water skied into his 80’s. He and Carol spent 29 winters in Arizona, enjoying square dancing, shuffleboard and their friends. Carol also became a member of the View Point Camera Club.
They had moved back to Greenbush before Allen died in 2016. Carol remained in their Greenbush home and later moved to Lifecare Greenbush Manor. She moved to Big Lake, Minnesota in 2023 to be closer to family and lived until January of this year, 2026, age 93.
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for letting us share our county’s history with your listeners by donating air time, studio time, and production staff every week.