Brian Derrick Larson

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A funeral service for Brian Derrick Larson, 64, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Covenant Lutheran Church in Wheatland with Reverend Joshua Bruns.  Inurnment will be held in the Wheatland Cemetery.
Brian Larson passed away Thursday, Oct.17  at the Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colo.
Brian was born Wednesday, April 13, 1955 in Minneapolis, Minn. the son of Roy Clarence and Bette Loraine (Bergland) Larson.
He attended school in Bloomington, Minn., including John F. Kennedy High School. He then attended college at South Dakota State University where he earned his Bachelors of Science in engineering and met his wife, Barbara. Brian and Barb married on June 24, 1983 in Dorset, Minn.
After Brian graduated college, he worked for Basin Electric Power Cooperative at the Laramie River Station (coal-fired power plant) in Wheatland. Brian and Barb purchased land north of Wheatland, built a home on that property, and lived there for 39 years. During that same time frame, Brian was employed in his life’s work, first as an engineer, later in his favorite and most challenging role in management. He worked his way up to Plant Manager, the highest-ranking position at Laramie River Station. During his time working for Basin Electric, he made monthly trips to headquarters in Bismarck, N.D., a place that grew on him over the years. He worked for 39 years before retiring in January, 2018. He cared for the people he worked with and deeply enjoyed making Laramie River Station a better place to work every day.
Brian loved sports. His favorite teams were the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Minnesota North Stars, North Dakota Fighting Sioux, Colorado Avalanche, Denver Broncos, Wyoming Cowboys, and Colorado Rockies. He loved rooting for these teams and any underdog he could find. He disliked basically any franchise that mounted continued success including the Green Bay Packers, New York Yankees, Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Braves, and New England Patriots. Brian thoroughly enjoyed fantasy sports, including fantasy baseball and football, in which he routinely played in leagues with his sons and their friends. He excelled in every league he was involved in and was well-known for his extensive research and notes. His competitive spirit and love of sports will live on.
His favorite sports memories were attending sporting events with his family, watching his sons play sports, and coaching his sons Craig and Erik and their cohorts in baseball. Brian coached the Orioles/Reds to three Little League championships: one with Craig on the team; two with Erik on the team. He loved supporting youth athletics, so he joined the Platte County Parks and Recreation Board, serving for 13 years.
Brian was known for his unwavering love of family and friends, unyielding loyalty, and his deeply caring heart.
Brian is survived by his three sons, Sean Larson (Shaina Case), Craig Larson (Becca Larson), and Erik Larson (Emily Reed), his wife of 36 years, Barbara (Fransen) Larson. He was the proud grandfather to four grandchildren, with a fifth on the way. He is also survived by his mother, Bette Loraine (Bergland) Larson and his siblings, Dana Larson (Greg Payne), John Larson (Arleen Larson), and Susan Larson (Tracy Luke). He is also survived by many special extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Roy Clarence Larson.
The family encourages donations in Brian’s memory be made to Platte County Parks and Recreation, 93 Recreation Drive, Wheatland, Wyoming 82201 would be appreciated by the family.
Friends and family may call at the funeral home Friday, from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com