Rhoda Arlene Larson

Rhoda (Anderson) Larson, a resident of Covenant Living at the Holmstad in Batavia, IL passed away June 21, 2020 at the age of 82. She was born December 3, 1937 to Daniel and Hazel Anderson in the town of Reed City, Michigan. She grew up in Grand Rapids, MI, and spent many summers at Portage Lake Bible Camp where she served in a variety of ways. It was a place very dear to her throughout her entire life, especially because it was there that she met her husband-to-be, Bruce Larson. Rhoda received her nurses training at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago and served at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. She soon decided to move to the Detroit area with a long time friend. There she worked at Beaumont Hospital and a local pediatrician’s office. She also renewed a relationship with her friend Bruce which developed into a life-long love, and on February 12, 1966, they were married. She was an incredibly loving wife and together they had two children, Susan and Steve. She interrupted her career to stay home with the children, volunteering with their school, planning parties, singing in the church choir and teaching Sunday school. When the kids went to college, she returned to being an RN at a nursing home and continued to work with and love her patients until her retirement. Rhoda and Bruce moved to Batavia 13 years ago and have enjoyed life with all 7 grandchildren and with the wonderful residents at the Holmstad, serving in a variety of ways there and at Batavia Covenant Church. 

The most common reflection of friends and strangers is she was so warm and always had a bright smile. Her grandchildren loved her chocolate chip cookies and, when visiting, ran immediately to her M & M dish which was always full unless she had beaten them to it. For all the family it was common to call her with questions about cooking or health needs for the kids. She, with husband Bruce, enjoyed traveling, reading and helping people. Rhoda was a person who had a significant impact on family, friends and everyone she met. She will truly be missed.

Rhoda is survived by her husband, Bruce, her daughter Susan (Mark) Johnson, her son Steve (Heather) Larson and her grandchildren, Cody, Lars, and Grace Johnson, and Josh, Rachel, Sarah and Isaac Larson, as well as her two sisters and their husbands, a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial gifts may be sent to Batavia Covenant Church at 1314 W. Main St., Batavia, IL, 60510 or to Portage Lake Bible Camp at 4158 Camp Delight Rd., Onekama, MI, 49675.

A celebration of life will be conducted at a later time.