September 6, 2017


Hazel Larson
Today would have been my mom’s 98th birthday.  This picture was taken in front of the cottage at Okoboji, her favorite place in the whole world.  Most of you knew her as the popcorn maker at Open House and I have the perfect picture of her standing at the popcorn machine.  I have searched for that picture for too long so I’ll use this one instead taken at her favorite rib restaurant, Bill’s Barbeque in Mason City, Iowa.  Notice her Okoboji sweatshirt.


We had a huge 90th birthday party for her here at the farm – she loved it and I’m so glad we did it because 2-1/2 months later she had a stroke and spent the next 2-1/2 years at Concord Care Center in Garner where she made the best of a bad situation since she was paralyzed on her right side.


Here she is with her sisters Blanche and Florence – Becky is standing behind her.


She loved sports and especially Minnesota Twins Joe Mauer.  When the Twins were on TV she made sure she wore her #7 t-shirt which is Joe’s number.  This picture was taken in her room at Concord with Becky and Izzy playing on her bed.


Becky and I miss her very much and mention her often – especially when we attend an event we know she would have enjoyed.

Happy 98th Birthday in Heaven, Mom!

36 thoughts on “September 6, 2017”

  5. Kris Gavin

    I’m thinking of how delicious her birthday cake must be… thanks for sharing your Mom with us…. a special lady with an extra special daughter.

  7. Louise

    Thank you for sharing your very heart felt memories of your Mom. A lovely lady with two beautiful daughters.

  8. Dorothy

    You look so much like your mom. Thank you for sharing sweet memories. Now I know where you got doggie Hazels name. We named our doggie Patty after our pastors wife

  12. Janice

    Tears in my eyes You do look like your mom! I love that she wore her lucky T-shirt when Joe was playing, such a passion! I’m sure you miss her. Hugs to you Mary. Thanks for sharing…

    you

  14. Charlotte Barnard

    Mary: Wonderful to remember our moms whenever we can, which is always. She is always lovingly watching over you. God bless you both, and happy birthday in heaven! xx

  15. Sue

    Thank you for this sweet post and photos. You look lots like her, but you have probably been told that already. It immediately brought to mind my own dear mother, gone now for 18 years.

  16. Marie M

    Enjoy good memories of your mother today. Missing them never goes away. May you feel her loving presence surrounding you!

  17. Martha Engstler

    You are so lucky to have your special mom for so long. I think Iowa is great place to live a long life. My mom was 95 when she passed. Although she lived in the east most of her life she was born in Iowa and loved it, so do we.

  18. Kathy

    What a loving daughter you are for such beautiful words. I would love to have the gorgeous head of hair your mom had!!!

  19. Donna and Shirley

    Hi Mary,
    Very nice how you put the pictures of your Mom, together with little stories about her.
    Know she’s looking down from heaven, smiling that you remembered her on her 98th birthday.
    Birthdays, should never be forgotten!
    Friends from Montana,
    Donna, Shirley, Bob & Abby

  21. Susan Burger

    You resemble your mom very much. You were fortunate to have her for so many years but I know how you never get over losing your mom.

  23. Fiona at Ice Bear Quilts

    What lovely memories to share, Mary. Your Mom shares her birthday with my sister-in-law, Brenda, who turned 57 today.

  24. Cynthia Sabinske

    Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful photos and great memories. Autumn is a very nostalgic time of year, and I also have great memories of my myther as well! Your mother must have had a lot of spunk and seems like she had a lot of happiness too! Thanks for sharing your memories with us!

  25. Melody Lenart

    Dear Mary,

    I certainly feel your pain. My mother died on New Year Day 1996. Miss her all the time. We’ll see them in heaven and won’t that be wonderful.

  28. Kathy Hanson

    What wonderful memories you have of your beautiful mother. Love and hugs to you today – and always!

  31. Janice Brown

    What a lovely tribute to your mother. My own mother would of been 98 this December but we lost her about three months after she turned 90. I do miss her a lot.

    Are your mother’s sisters still alive?

  33. Felicia Hamlin

    Mary you look a lot like your mom and your aunts, all good looking women. It sounds like she had a lot of spunk. Hugs to you.

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