Marjorie Burreson Larson Fossey

Marjorie Kaye Burreson Larson Fossey, 77, of Decorah, passed away peacefully January 9, 2018, surrounded by family at Aase Haugen Nursing Home. Marge was born on June 4, 1940, in rural Canton, Minn., to Merland and Winifred (Johnson) Halvorson. She was the seventh of eight children. She graduated from Canton High School in 1958. On May 9, 1959, she married John Burreson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. John and Marge owned and operated Burreson Locker & Grocery in Hesper, Iowa. Together they had two daughters, Melanie and Melody. In 1978, John and Marge sold the locker and started a new adventure in Arizona. They loved the desert and city life. John passed away from cancer in 1982. Still in Arizona, Marge met another Iowan, Gary Larson, and they were married in 1986. Gary passed away from cancer in 1994.

Marge loved the southwest and resided there until 1996 when she moved back to Iowa to be a grandma. She worked many years at KQ98 and KVIK radio as a sales representative and enjoyed her time with customers and coworkers. She married Allen Fossey in 2003 at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Decorah. In 2014, Marge moved to Aase Haugen Nursing Home, as her Progressive Supranuclear Palsy continued to deteriorate her health.

Marge was an excellent cook. She loved to bake Christmas goodies and share them with friends and family. She was especially famous for her crispy chocolate chip cookies. Marge loved visiting Melanie and family at their farm near Decorah for Sunday dinners. She also enjoyed visiting Melody when her health allowed. Marge loved to travel and visited a few special destinations including Norway, Mexico, and Hawaii. She also enjoyed dancing, serving on the Nordic Fest Board, and being a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, where she was Past Worthy Matron.

She is survived by her husband Allen Fossey, Decorah; daughters Melanie (Galen) Tietz, Decorah, and Melody (Michael) McIrvin, Phoenix, Ariz.; grandchildren Jordan Tietz and Daiton Tietz (special friend Mitch Donkers), both of Decorah; Allen’s children: Bruce, Wanda, Jean, and Bonnie; siblings Bonnie (Mike) Richardson, Patricia Doose, Kenny (Lois) Halvorson, Judy (Larry) Smith, Jean (Lorry) Wille; sisters-in-law Ceil Halvorson, Sybil (Everett) Christensen, Georgia Snyder; brother-in-law Stanley Swenson, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John’s parents Norvel and Verna Burreson, husband John Burreson, husband Gary Larson, granddaughter Danica, brother Richard, sister Lois Swenson, brother-in-law Harris Burreson, brother-in-law Don Doose.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, January 13, at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Decorah, with the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Edinger officiating.  Burial will be at a later date in the Hesper Lutheran Cemetery.  Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday, January 12, at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel. Memorials are preferred to the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church or Aase Haugen Senior Services.