Kent Larson

Kenton L Larson (Kent), 76, of Beulah, passed away on January 29, 2026 at CHI St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck ND. Service will be held 10:00 AM CST Friday, February 6, 2026 at Concordia Lutheran Church in Beulah, ND with Rev. Toby Heller officiating. Burial will follow at 2:00 PM CST at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND. Visitation will be held the night prior from 5 to 7 PM CST on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at Barbot Funeral Home.

Kent was born to Harold and Mabel (Heine) Larson July 17, 1949, in Hazen, ND. The family lived at Truax-Traer Dakota Star Mine, 6 miles north of Hazen, where he attended the country school until 6 grade when his family moved into town. He graduated from Hazen High School in 1968 where he was a star player on the baseball and football teams.  Kent enlisted in the army in the fall of 1968, serving in Germany, Vietnam, and Texas.  A proud member of the 101st Airborne. He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service in Vietnam.

After his honorable discharge from the Army in 1971, he moved to Mandan ND where he lived with his friend Merle Baisch. He attended Bismarck Junior College and was employed by the Mandan Police Department. June 9, 1973, he and Mary Jo McKenzie were married at Concordia Lutheran Church in Beulah, ND. Kent and Mary Jo moved to Minot, ND where Kent worked for the Minot Police Department. In 1979 they moved to Beulah where Kent worked as a pipefitter on the construction of the coal gasification plant. He was hired by Knife River Coal Mine in 1980 and worked as a coal miner operating heavy equipment until his retirement in 2011. 

Kent and Mary Jo had two children, Anne and Kathryn (Katie).

They spent most of their summers at the softball diamond. Kent played softball well into his 50’s and enjoyed watching his girls play ball.  He was an avid sports fan cheering on the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, and the Beulah Miners. Every year he looked forward to pheasant and deer hunting with Paul Metz and family. Kent was a member of the United Mine Workers of America, VFW, American Legion, and Ducks Unlimited Committee. He was an active member of Concordia Lutheran Church, serving many years on the church council in various positions.

Kent spent his early years of retirement riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, enjoying trips to Sturgis, the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, and around ND. His most memorable trip was riding to Washington DC with his good friend Tim Krause for the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally. Kent spent many Tuesday evenings at "Men's Night" solving the local and world problems while enjoying a beer.

Kent and Mary Jo spent their recent years attending their 5 grandchildren's sporting and school events. They spent several family vacations with their children and grandchildren creating wonderful memories that will be cherished for years.

Kent is survived by his wife, Mary Jo; their two daughters Anne (Aaron) Rosenow, Hazen ND, Katie (Wade) Kummer, Bismarck, ND; five grandchildren, Hudson and Delaney Rosenow, Riley, Nathan and Wyatt Kummer; brother, Kevin and Cheryl Larson, Fargo ND, brother-in-law, Scott and Patti McKenzie, Missoula, MT, sister-in-law, Vickie and Rod Helm, Park Rapids, MN. His Uncle Larry (Sue) Heine, Marco Island, FL, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Mabel Larson, Mary Jo’s parents, Mac and Milly McKenzie, and his nephew, Tyler Larson.  

In Lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that memorials are donated to Sakakawea Medical Center in Hazen, ND as well as the ND Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND.

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Homes, Beulah and Hazen.

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