Luella Larsen

Luella Mae Workman Hovden Larsen, 87, of Cedar Falls, died Monday, March 17, 2008, at Sartori Memorial Hospital, the hospital where she had been born January 19, 1921. She was the daughter of Stephen W. Workman and Mae Hursh Workman. Luella (Loo) graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1938 and from Iowa State Teachers College in 1941, with a B.A. She taught home economics at the high school in Ridgeway, Iowa.

Luella married Robert A. Hovden on April 27, 1946. Robert worked at John Deere and Luella was a homemaker. Three children were born in this marriage, Marsha Jane, Cynthia Lou and Alex Robert. Robert died on December 25, 1972.

Luella married Elmer W. Larsen on October 4, 1975. During the marriage she worked for Black Hawk County in the social services department. After retirement she and Elmer traveled, both in the United States and abroad, attending elderhostels and visiting every state capital, presidential library and many historical sites. They also visited Denmark and Norway. Elmer died on March 3, 1992.

Luella continued to enjoy traveling with friends, including to Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica and the British Isles and France.

Luella was a longtime member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She was a proud citizen of Cedar Falls and a volunteer at the Cedar Falls Historical Society and at the Oster Regent Theater. She belonged to the UNI Alumni Association, Gamma Phi Beta sorority (formerly Delta Delta Phi), the Gallagher Bluedorn Theater and PEO.

Survivors include children Cynthia Hovden Albright (David) of Duluth, Minnesota, and Alex Hovden (Claudia) of Cedar Falls; grandchildren Katherine Townsend (Isaac), Thomas Albright (Elizabeth Olson), Mary Albright and Elizabeth Albright; and great-grandson Soren Townsend; sister-in-law Lois Jean Thompson, nieces and nephews; stepchildren John Larsen and Mary Farmer; and longtime family friends Dorothy and Wes Van Gundy.

She was preceded in death by Marsha Hovden, Robert Hovden and Elmer Larsen.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2008 in the Chapel at the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home. Visitation will be one hour before the service. A coffee hour will be held after the memorial service. Interment later at Madison Cemetery in Ridgeway, Iowa.

The family requests no flowers. Memorials may be directed to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Cedar Falls Historical Society or the donors' choice.

Source: Richardson Funeral Home