News
Former Bottineau mayor passes away
Scott Wagar
06/17/2014
Former mayor of Bottineau, Mensvil Norman Larson, passed away on June 7, 2014, in a Minot hospital from pneumonia. He leaves behind a legacy of service to his country and community.
Larson was born in Bottineau on June 3, 1925, to Mensvil and Alma Marie (Anderson) Larson. He was raised on his family’s farmstead and received his formal education through the Roland Township Country School, Bottineau High School, Dakota College at Bottineau and the University of Ohama where he earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering.
His education was interrupted for a time when World War II broke out. In 1945, Larson joined the U.S. Army in 1945 and served his country for 25 years through WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. During his time in combat zones, Larson was awarded the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Award and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
In peacetime, Larson also served on posts in the U.S. and Germany. In June of 1970, he retired from military service and moved back to Bottineau where he continued in his service for his government as a civil servant in Bottineau.
Larson started his political career as a Bottineau alderman where he served on the council from 1977 to 1980 and then again from 1984 to 1990.
He was elected mayor of Bottineau in 1990 and served in that capacity until 1998.
Larson was also a member of the State Planning Commission, member and president of the Regional Planning Commission, member and president of the Souris Basin Planning Committee, along with other civic and military organization which included Bottineau’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8688 and Bottineau’s AMVETS Post #25.
Larson was also granted a number of accolades, some of which included the Souris Basin Planning Council’s Basil O’Connell Award in 1997 for his community leadership and as a Lifetime Member of AMVETS Post #25 for his service to his country.