Meet Our Caring Team

Guy first entered funeral service in 1989 in Dayton, Ohio and has worked in Northern Kentucky, West Virginia, Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming since that time.   He joined our funeral home in September of 2024 and brings his vast experience, expertise, and commitment to compassionate care to our local community.  Guy can also be found in the online pages of CEOWorld Magazine, Real Leaders Magazine, and the bookshelves of many stores, having written multiple articles and co-authoring a leadership book that helps business leaders address the change-management tactics required when employees are grieving over any traumatic event. 

You can often find Guy releasing stress at the keys of our chapel piano with any free time he has, or spending time with his most cherished cohorts....his family.

Charlotte is originally from Jamestown, ND, and graduated from Jamestown High School. She has a bachelor’s degree in mortuary science from the University of Minnesota. Before joining the team, Charlotte worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for three years and spent several years working as a funeral director in North Dakota. With her empathetic and helpful nature, Charlotte felt called to funeral service. She sees it as an opportunity to care for others when they need it most.

In her spare time, Charlotte enjoys exercising, doing DIY home projects, sewing, spending time with her family, and being at the lake. She and her husband, Jesse, have two dogs: Layla and Macaria.

Jesse was born and raised in the Brainerd/Nisswa area of Minnesota. After graduating from Brainerd High School in 2008, Jesse spent the next ten years working with developmentally disabled individuals within the Brainerd community. In 2020, Jesse decided to take his dedication to families a step further and pursue his bachelor’s degree in mortuary science from the University of Minnesota, which he attained in 2024. Jesse felt called to funeral service so that he would be able to serve families on a deeper level at some of the most significant moments in their lives.

During his free time, Jesse enjoys doing photography, looking through his telescope, playing guitar, traveling, and going on adventures with his best friends—a Basset hound named Friedrich and a Dachshund named Karl.   

Julie Kugler was born in Detroit Lakes and grew up around the Franklin Lake area. She went to school in Pelican Rapids. Julie and her husband, Mike, have two children and two grandchildren.  She started working at Larson Funeral Home in February 2016 and also works as a beautician at Pelican Valley Health Center. Julie enjoys spending special time with her grandchildren, camping, going to craft shows, scrapbooking, and being with her family.

Denise was raised in rural Frazee and graduated from Frazee High School. After living in the Minneapolis area for three years, she moved back to the Frazee area and began a career in banking that extended over thirty-five years. Denise was VP of Mortgage Lending at a bank in Detroit Lakes prior to serving with Young Life Castaway Club on Pelican Lake for the last couple of years. She then took an early retirement.

Denise enjoys being active in area communities. Currently, she is involved with TeacHaiti, a non-profit organization providing education for children in Haiti; volunteers with the local Young Life organization; and serves at Lakes Area Vineyard Church. Denise’s heart is at home enjoying time with family. Denise loves working with people and is honored to serve others as an Advance Funeral Planner.

Milo D. Larson was born and raised in Alexandria, Minnesota. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and later attended the University of Minnesota, where he graduated with a degree in mortuary science. He worked with Ivers Funeral Home in Fargo, North Dakota, and partnered with Paul Korsmo at Korsmo Funeral Service in Moorhead, Minnesota, in 1963. Milo and his wife, Marjorie, purchased Johnson Funeral Home in Pelican Rapids in 1970, which he owned and operated until 1995. Milo continues to be active at Larson Funeral Home on a part-time basis. He now enjoys fishing, boating, golfing, and caring for his flowers and lawn at their home on Lake Lizzie. The couple spends their winters in Florida where Milo enjoys golfing, boating in the Gulf, and playing tennis. Milo was an active member of the Rotary Club in Pelican Rapids for many years and the American Legion for 52 years; he is also a member of the Fergus Falls Elks Club and the Detroit Lakes Eagles Club. He and Marjorie are members of Faith Lutheran Church in Pelican Rapids.

Marjorie Larson was born in Iowa and raised on a farm near Litchville, North Dakota. She attended Interstate Business College in Fargo. She married Milo Larson in Fargo, and they lived in Moorhead until 1970 when they moved to Pelican Rapids, MN. She became an active partner with her husband after her children reached school age. She and Milo have three children and three grandchildren. They spend their winters in Florida where she enjoys playing tennis and shelling. She continues to help at Larson Funeral Home during the summer months.

Mary was born and raised in southeast North Dakota and graduated from NDSU. She lived in Williston, ND, for six years before moving to Fargo in 1977, where she raised her three sons. Mary moved to Dunvilla on Lake Lizzie in 1997. She has four granddaughters who love spending time at the lake.

In 2013, Mary retired from Concordia College, after 27 years in the Advancement Office. She joined the staff at Larson Funeral Home in 2015. Mary is an active member of Zion Lutheran Church on Franklin Lake.

After his retirement in 2016, Wayne began working at Larson Funeral Home. He enjoys helping people and likes serving his community with the wonderful staff at Larson. Outside of work, Wayne and his wife especially enjoy traveling. They have two children and two grandsons who are highlight of their lives. 

Dean was born in Pelican Rapids and raised on a mink ranch a mile from Lake Lida, graduating from Pelican Rapids High School. He also lived in Sartell, Glyndon, and Plymouth (all in MN) before moving back to the Lida area in 2007. Dean is married to Linda Grahn, and they have four children and eleven grandkids.

Dean works part time for Otter Tail County, serves as the Congregational Chairman at Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, and is on the Board of Trustees for the Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary in Plymouth, MN.

Gloria grew up in West Fargo, ND, and graduated from NDSU. She raised two sons and has one granddaughter and one great granddaughter.  Gloria and her husband, Dave, moved to Lake Ida permanently in 1998. Gloria worked in medical sales and at Sanford Health, retiring in 2014. She enjoys walking and hiking, reading, flower gardening, and having coffee with her friends. Gloria attends Lake Eunice Evangelical Free Church.

Sydni Mansager was born in Bemidji, MN. She grew up and attended school in Blackduck, MN. Sydni married Mel Mansager in 1976. They lived a few years in Glyndon before moving to Barnesville, where they made their home for over 34 years. Sydni and Mel have three children and four grandchildren. 

Sydni worked in banking in Barnesville for over thirty years and was very active in the community. She and Mel started a trucking company, Lodestar Transport, with partners in 2007. In 2012, they moved to Pelican Rapids and made their home on Lake Lida. Mel and Sydni retired in 2017. Sydni is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Pelican Rapids. She enjoys living at the lake, flower gardening, traveling, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, family, and friends.