Peggy Larsen (Housman)

Peggy Jo (Housman) Larsen of Beresford, SD, passed away on March 17, 2021 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD after a hard-fought battle with leukemia. A celebration of life will begin 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 3, 2021 at the Hansen Funeral Home in Vermillion, SD with visitation one hour prior to the service. Service will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/hansenfuneral

Peggy, daughter of Raymond and Fannie (Burger) Housman, was born in Huron, SD on July 8, 1949. Peggy graduated from Huron High School in Huron. She attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD where she received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing.

She married Donald Larsen of Webster, SD on December 11, 1970 in Huron where they would start their 50 years of marriage together. Later they would live in various towns throughout South Dakota; including Centerville, Vermillion and Beresford.

Peggy greatly enjoyed her career in the nursing field working for various hospitals and nursing homes in Central and Southeastern South Dakota. She even spent a summer as a traveling nurse in Arizona. Her knowledge in the field of nursing, led her into teaching as an instructor beginning at the former Huron College in Huron, South Dakota and retiring as a tenured Associate Professor at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

Peggy loved spending time with her family and friends and especially loved time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling to many places around the United States and the world. Upon retirement her and Don found interest in taking cruises, which would serve as a catalyst to providing multiple experiences for her family and grandchildren. Peggy enjoyed relaxing at the lake and fishing and was looking forward to spending more time at Blue Lake, Iowa as it was only an hour away from their home. Her love was genuine and selfless.

Peggy is survived by her husband, Donald Larsen, of Beresford; her children, Jennifer (James) Orr of Vermillion, Scott Larsen of Waubay, SD, Dustin (Liza Jackson) Larsen of Vermillion and Melissa (Jacob) Overby of Sioux Falls. Grandchildren, Jillian, Alicia and Nicholas Kribell, James and Elizabeth Larsen, Kelcy Orr and Anthony Jackson and her brother Roy (Sharon) Housman of Rapid City, SD.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Fannie Housman, a brother Eugene Housman, and a grandson August Kribell.