Valerie L. Larson

Valerie L. Larson, 68, of Dilworth, MN, passed away on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND surrounded by her family.

Valerie Lynn Kicker was born on September 29, 1954, to Jerome and Kathryn (Schnathorst) Kicker, in Moorhead, MN. Valerie was raised in Dilworth, graduating from DGF High School in 1973. Valerie’s dad was a carpenter who taught her how to do many things and she was his right hand for many projects.

Only a year after graduation, on October 26, 1974, in Dilworth Lutheran Church, Valerie married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life Steven Larson. Together they had three sons and a daughter and made their home in Dilworth. They lived near Wisconsin for about 10 years before finding their way back home to Dilworth into a house that Valerie’s father had built, and she had grown up in.

Valerie worked as a dental assistant for many years but found her passion as a paraprofessional. For the last 25 years, she has worked as a para for Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Public Schools. She loved being a para and working with kids and helping them learn and grow. In her longstanding post, she was able to work with the children of her former students. Watching multiple generations of kids learn and grow into adults was very special to Valerie, and she touched a lot of lives throughout the years.

Valerie loved spending summers at their lake cabin, especially mowing the lawn. She enjoyed going glamping with Steve in various National Parks around Minnesota. Renting houseboats to float around relaxing and fishing on a lake was a highlight of their camping excursions. Valerie also enjoyed the cruises they took to various places, often with her sisters and their husbands.  Valerie also enjoyed diamond painting, reading, and puzzles. She was an animal lover. Valerie loved all her grandchildren and often babysat and found reasons to spend time with them and the rest of her family. She was an avid scrapbooker and spent countless hours creating scrapbooks for her grandchildren to treasure.

Valerie is survived by her husband of 48 years, Steve; her sons, Darin (Rachel), Dustin (Paige), and Dylan (Melissa); daughter, Danette (Kurtis) Trautmann; grandchildren, (Darin’s children) Lyla and Zander Larson, (Dustin’s children) Alayna, Jaxon, and Brooklyn Larson, (Dylan’s child) Lionel Larson, (Danette’s children) Annabelle and Bennett Trautmann. She is also survived by her sisters, Lavonne (Ed) Nordgulen, Cindy (Randy) Beckett, and Elana (Rahn) Bergee. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jerome and Kathryn.

Valerie’s Memorial Service will be on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 10 AM, with a visitation one hour prior, in Dilworth Lutheran Church in Dilworth.

To share Memories and Condolences, please visit her memorial page on our website at www.korsmofuneralservice.com       

 Arrangements entrusted to Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead, MN