Retired Covenant pastor Robert Larson died May 18, 2024.
He was 92.
Robert Carl Larson was born on October 30, 1931, to Carl and Edna Larson in Portland, Oregon. Robert believed in the importance of education and earned many academic achievements, including an associate of arts from North Park College, bachelor of arts with a major in philosophy from Lewis and Clark College, a bachelor of divinity from North Park Theological Seminary, and doctor of philosophy in urban planning from the University of Washington.
He met the love of his life, Novella Trudeau, as a young man attending First Covenant Church in Portland. They married on December 30, 1955. Both being only children, Robert and Novella felt blessed to have four children, 10 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Robert was proud of his family and made daily calls to check in and see what they were doing. His favorite days were spent with family.
Robert was ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1959. He served Covenant churches in Mercer Island, Washington; Salem, Oregon; Bellevue, Washington (Newport); Tacoma, Washington (First); Kent, Washington (Evangelical); and Seattle, Washington (North). In 1969, he accepted a call to serve as executive secretary of church growth and evangelism for the denomination in Chicago.
Throughout his ministry, he focused on church planting. He founded National Covenant Properties, an organization to fund new and growing Covenant churches. He traveled the US extensively, supporting the regional conferences, which fostered a love for the Covenant mission to ethnic communities such as Russian, Korean, urban, and native Alaskan. He was instrumental in nurturing the Christian radio for Russia ministry with Arctic Broadcasting (KICY).
Robert was an avid adventurer, traveling to more than 40 countries with Novella. He also enjoyed time with family at their farm in Merrimac, Wisconsin. His sense of adventure, coupled with his urban planning background, fueled his interest in real estate in Alaska. After retirement, his days were filled with the management of his commercial real estate in Anchorage. Fishing was a passion that grew exponentially with opportunities to take his children and grandchildren throughout the state of Alaska.
For 55 years, he was a faithful member of Northwest Covenant Church in Mount Prospect, Illinois, serving with passion and love. He loved building decks, renovating kitchens, replumbing and rewiring his and his children’s houses. Happiness was to have the perfect lawn and garden. He was an avid Bears fan and proudly drove his red pickup truck. His heart was touched the most when holding and talking to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He valued family traditions, the greatest of which was reading the Christmas story every year on Christmas Eve. In his words, “The most important prayer (I have for you) is that you will follow Jesus all of your life.”
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Novella; children, Christy Prikkel (Dennis), Cindy Vander Steen (Kent), David Larson (Courtney), and Mark Larson (Lisa); grandchildren, Alicen Manus (Eric), Krista Hunsanger (Jim), John Vander Steen, Tim Prikkel (Andrea), Kelli Lerg (Andrew), Matthew Larson (fiancee Sarah Wood), Daniel Larson, Nicolas Larson, Natalie Larson, Lindsey Larson, Molly Nakahara (fiancee Sam Heupel), Caroline Nakahara, and Inoa Nakahara; and 11 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 29, at 11:00 a.m. at Northwest Covenant Church.
Peace be to his memory.
