Loretta May Larson

Loretta was born at home on February 6th, 1935, in Claremore, Oklahoma, to Charles and Eva Whipkey. During the Great Depression, when Loretta was five, her family moved to California in their new car. After further moves, they settled in Cutler, CA, where her parents started a gas station business. Growing up, Loretta was a gifted student. She was valedictorian of her junior high class and graduated from Orosi High school in 1953. In high school, she was a cheerleader and led the whole school in rallies and performed gymnastics in the town parades. She participated in pageants where she won and placed regularly. During high school, she met the love of her life, Eugene Larson. Loretta and Eugene married in 1954, and remained married for 67 years, until his death in 2022. Early in their marriage, Loretta and Eugene moved regularly, following Eugene’s job with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Eventually, they settled on a small farm in Riverbank, CA. Along the way, Loretta worked various jobs as a stenographer/secretary and raised their family of four with Eugene.

From an early age, Loretta was a businesswoman, coming home from school to sell ‘penny candy’ to customers at her parent’s family business. In Riverbank, her skills in business flourished. She became a Real Estate agent, then a Broker. While working in Real Estate she helped clients, purchased investment properties, and owned/operated an almond ranch. She was a keen protector of the community, successfully leading recall efforts to protect property rights. Loretta also loved to refinish old/overlooked things, from furniture to homes, and make them beautiful again. Loretta loved her family deeply. She was always a fierce defender and loving helper to her family and her help and assistance to them was boundless. She loved the Lord Jesus Christ and wanted all she knew to come to him as Lord and Savior. Loretta is survived by her four children, Russell Larson (Sharon), Michael Larson (Lynette), Phillip Larson (RaeLyn), and Julie Romano (David). She has 18 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.