Theodore Clarence Larson

Ted had a smile that showed up before he even said a word. It was the kind of smile that filled the room. It was steady, confident and almost mischievous - the kind of smile that made you feel like something good was just around the corner. If you asked him how he was doing, no matter what he was facing, you were almost guaranteed to hear his favorite phrase: "Happiness is a choice."

He did not just say it, he believed it. Even when life was messy; even when his health made things harder than they should have been; even when the road felt uphill - Ted chose to look for the light. He chose to smile. He chose to believe things could be better. He was always “Living the dream”.

Ted was born on November 30, 1971, to Kathleen Christopherson and Daniel Larson. In 1980, the family moved from Wisconsin to Stranger, Texas and he later attended Marlin schools. It did not take long for the entire town of Marlin to know the Larson boys. Ted and his brothers, Barry and Scott, were thick as thieves and everyone knew that if you saw one of them, the others were not far behind. They supported one another fiercely and carried that brotherly bond throughout their lives.

Though Texas became home, Wisconsin always held a special place in his heart. His family spent many meaningful years involved with Lyster Lutheran Church, where Ted even volunteered to work the famously fragrant lutefisk dinners every Christmas - proving that faith and a strong stomach can carry a man through just about anything.

In his most recent years, Ted chose to return to Texas where he spent time surrounded by family and lifelong friends - right where he felt he belonged.

Ted loved working with his hands. Whether building custom manure haulers in the shop or working on his own pickup, he found satisfaction in taking things apart and putting them back together better than before. If it had an engine, he was interested. He found joy in fixing what was broken, and often those mechanical lessons turned into life lessons.

He also had a deep love for farming and ranching. He enjoyed preparing the fields for planting, watching the seasons change, harvesting what had been sown, and tending to the animals. There was something about the steady rhythm of the land that suited him. Whether he was behind the wheel of a tractor or walking the pasture checking livestock, he carried quiet pride in the work. If the wind shifted across the field bringing with it the unmistakable scent of cattle, he would grin and say, "That’s the smell of money." The dirt under his boots and grease on his hands felt equally at home. It was hard work, but to Ted, it was good work.

If you stood still long enough, Ted would give you advice. Sometimes whether you asked for it or not. He had thoughts on how to fi x what was broken, how to approach life, how to make better choices, and how to handle a situation the right way. Sometimes you nodded and smiled; sometimes you rolled your eyes; but underneath it all was his desire to help. He wanted people to win. He wanted people to do better. He genuinely believed he had found a shortcut to happiness, and he was more than willing to share it.

He also had a playful streak that those closest to him will never forget. On family camping trips, just as the sun was rising and everyone was enjoying those last precious minutes of sleep, Ted would suddenly and loudly shout, "Pretty Bird", just to get a rise out of everyone. It never failed to start the day with groans, eye rolls and laughter. That silly tradition will be deeply missed by those who loved him and woke up to it year after year.

Raising his three boys was one of the greatest chapters of his life. Through practices, school events, scraped knees, loud dinners, long talks, and the everyday chaos of growing up - Ted loved his boys deeply. That love never wavered. No matter what he was battling physically or emotionally, his pride in his children was constant and undeniable.

He is survived by his three sons: Thomas Smith of China Spring, Texas, Madison Larson of Riesel, Texas and Lane (and Skylar) Larson of Riesel, Texas. His eight precious grandchildren: Gabriella, Marcileen, Gracie and Nash Smith, Nyla Vasquez; Sophia Larson; and Alaina and Theodore Larson. Nothing brought out his smile faster than his grandkids. He is also survived by his mother, Kathleen (and Stephen) Aldredge of Marlin, Texas; his brothers, Barry (and Bobbi) Larson of Lorena, Texas, and Scott (and Misty) Larson ofLorena, Texas and his sister, Stacy (and Heath) Curry of Bremond, Texas; his beloved other mother, Mary Mueller; his honorary siblings: Lori Henderson, Beth Marcon, Lynn Bauer, Bente Moe, Andrew Mueller; and his cousins: Missy Ostertag, Marla Severson; Amy Berres, Debbie Young; Ross Christopherson, Jenny Hayden; Raymond Christopherson, and Sheila Neill; Eric Larson, Leif Larson, and Garth Larson. He was a loving uncle to many nieces and nephews who adored him and he was cherished by many aunts, uncles, extended family members, and lifelong friends. His list of old friends was long and a testament to the loyalty and deep connections he carried throughout his life.

He was preceded in death by his father, Daniel Larson; his paternal grandparents, Clarence and Myrtle Larson; his maternal grandparents, Raymond and Shirley Christopherson; his uncles, Joe Larson, Timothy Larson, John Christopherson, and Peter Mueller; his cousins, Randy Parker and Shelly Larson; beloved great aunts and uncles; and his faithful family dog, Diego, who held a special place in his heart.

Ted was not perfect (none of us are), but his love was deep; his belief was strong, and he tried - and that matters.

If there is one thing he would want us all to remember, it is this:

Happiness is a choice.

So, in his honor, we choose to remember the laughter; we choose to remember the lessons; we choose to remember the love; we choose to smile and we chose Happiness - just like he did!