| Janet Eklund Larson
Family has been a priority for Janet Eklund Larson over the years. Asked to relate any major accomplishments since our 1963 graduation, she said simply, “I would consider raising three very nice adults my major accomplishment in life.”
After high school, Janet used her office skills acquired at Roosevelt , doing shorthand and typing in Minneapolis. She met Denny Larson, an Austin native who was doing an accounting internship in town through the then-Mankato State College. They married in 1966.
In 1969 Denny’s job transfer took the couple to Fairfax, Va., and Janet found employment with a firm doing U.S. government contracts in nearby Arlington. They had bought a house and settled in for what they thought was the long haul.
However, in 1972, with a baby in the family, they did an about-face on their enjoyable lives as Virginians. As Janet explained it, “Because we felt it was important for children to be close to their grandparents, we put our house up for sale and moved back to Minnesota.”
The Larsons found a home in west Bloomington, where they still live today. Janet reminisced, “During that time, I became a stay-at-home mom because it was important to me.”
Yet their children, now numbering three, wouldn’t always need Mom at home and today Brian, 37, Brett, 34, and Deanna, 30, are all married and have given their parents four grandchildren with a fifth on the way.
When Deanna started fourth grade, Janet started thinking about her own education again. In 1987 at age 42, she became a full-time student at Normandale Community College in Bloomington. She earned a two-year AA degree in 1989.
“I went to work within one month and realized almost right away that I needed a BA degree to get where I wanted to,” Janet recalled. “I went to Metropolitan State part time, and at first took one class at a time while working, and toward the end two classes each quarter. I did not graduate until 1995. My oldest son and I graduated from Metro State only three months apart.”
Today Janet is employed as a senior buyer for a German firm, SICK, Inc., in Bloomington. In recent years, she also acquired CPM (Certified Purchasing Manager) certification. Denny works as a CPA. They’re looking forward to retirement, but not just yet. Meanwhile, they keep busy.
“Most often we enjoy the simple things in life, like going to a movie or camping with our children and grandchildren,” Janet explained. “We have been fortunate to have taken several international trips. We recently returned from a wonderful trip to Italy.”
Looking back to her Roosevelt days, she said, “Mostly, I remember the many friends that I had and I am hoping that many of them will come to the reunion. I also enjoyed the football games and the many pep fests before the games. In addition, I recall the hockey games (at the old St. Paul Auditorium) where we played in the state tournament and the huge disappointment when we lost in overtime. Those were exciting times for hockey fans.”
If you recall, the Teddies lost to Roseau in overtime at the 1961 tournament and to St. Paul Johnson with 35 seconds left in the 1963 tourney. Those ended any state title hopes. As far as the present, Janet is planning to attend the 45-year class reunion on July 19: “The main reason that I want to go is to see many of the classmates that I have not seen in many years, some of whom I have not seen since high school. I have gone to most of the reunions; and as a result, have made new friends with classmates I never really had the opportunity to know in high school.” |
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| Janet Eklund Larson and husband Denny. |
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