Elcy B. Larson

© The Bakersfield Californian

16 January 2005

Submitted by: Sandi Carter

ELCY B. LARSON
1920 - 2005

A chapel service will be held for Elcy Larson, age 84, on Monday, January 17, 2005, at 1 p.m., at Peters Funeral home with burial to follow at Shafter Memorial Park.

Elcy Larson, who lived in Shafter for all but two years of her 84 years, died on Thursday, January 13 after a brief illness.

Born Elcy Bergen in Mayers County, Oklahoma, on December 14, 1920, she was the daughter of Jacob and Gertrude Bergen. The family moved to California when Elcy was 2, settling first on a farm in the Rio Bravo area and then moving to a house on Lerdo near the intersection of Shafter and Central Avenues, where her father operated a service station. Elcy graduated from Shafter High School in 1938. She worked at the soda fountain at Stringham's Drug Store and has the distinction of having been Shafter's very first car hop.

During World War II, she had a blind date with a young Air Force cadet, who was stationed at Minter Field. His name was Dick Larson, and six months later the two were married. After 6 weeks of marriage, Dick was sent to the European theater for two years. The plane he flew to Europe was a B-17 called "The Elusive Elcy." During the war, Elcy worked at Superior Oil Company. When Dick returned from the war, he devoted himself to farming and local politics (including four years as Shafter Mayor) and Elcy settled into being a homemaker and mother.

A real "people person," Elcy had many friends of all ages. She was a good listener, who always took the time to lend an ear to people's problems and share a laugh. A longtime tradition with her friends was the weekly "therapy sessions" at Mexicali in Bakersfield. While Elcy always insisted she was not a "joiner" she had many years of good times as part of the Lions Club Auxiliary (The Lady Lions), the Twenty-one Club, the Birthday Club, and the "Flat Tire" group. She also enjoyed regular bridge games with her friends. Over the years, family and friends cherished the clever poems she regularly wrote to mark every occasion, big or small.

Elcy was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Dick; brothers, Pete Bergen, Walt Bergen, and Harry Bergen; and her twin sister, Lilly. She is survived by her sister, Elizabeth Peters of Lynnwood, Washington; her brother, Roland Bergen of Morro Bay; her son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Tanya Larson of North Las Vegas, Nevada; her son and daughter-in-law, Scott Larson and Teresa Fahey of County Mayo, Ireland; two grandsons, Sean Hansen and wife, Sara, and Zachary Larson; three granddaughters, Meilssa Peterson and husband, Luke, Natalie Larson, and Maggie Larson; a great granddaughter, Lilly Peterson; a great grandson, Blaze Hansen, and many nephews and nieces, all of whom she loved very much.

At the family's request, donations may be made to the Lions Club's Richard Larson Scholarship or to the American Cancer Society.

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