Larry Kersten

Newburg

Larry John Kersten, 84, Newburg, passed away quietly in his sleep after a long battle with cancer on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, at a Minot assisted living facility.

He was born on Sept. 27, 1940, to Herman “Mike” and Jordis (nee~ Waddle) Kersten near Newburg. Larry grew up on the family farm located one mile north of Newburg as the oldest of five siblings. After high school, he went on to college graduating with a teaching degree from Valley City State College. During the summer, Larry would come back to Newburg and began farming with his brother Jerry, with whom he would continue to farm over the next sixty years only recently “retiring” from the day-to-day affairs after his 80th birthday.

On one of his summers at home, he met his future wife and life-long companion at a dance in Maxbass. Sharon Weber and Larry were married on June 5, 1965, and began their married life teaching in western North Dakota in Noonan and Crosby, respectively.

During the next few years, they had two children, Jeffrey, born in 1967, and Jennifer, born in 1969, while moving back to Bottineau so they could farm and teach school. In 1974, Sharon and Larry built a house next to the farm north of Newburg and remained active participants in local community affairs since that time.

Larry really enjoyed the cadence of life on the farm with the passing of the seasons. He enjoyed the morning coffee ritual whether it was at the local elevator, cafe, mall, or other such place as it evolved over the years and the occasional drink at the round table at the local bar. He enjoyed playing softball with the local team in the summers and enjoyed bowling during the winters. After his softball playing days were over, he enjoyed golfing with friends. He was very active on numerous local boards and community activities over the years.

In his later years, he and Sharon enjoyed spending time in Arizona in the winter and visiting their children and grandchildren who lived out of state.

Family: Larry is survived by his loving wife, Sharon Kersten, Newburg; son, Jeff (Sandy Garges) Kersten, Ann Arbor, Mich., and their children, Christopher and Ryan; his daughter, Jennifer (Jason) Neumann, Norwood, Minn., and their children, Madalyn and Jacob; as well as his four siblings, Jerry (Bonnie Pease) Kersten, rural Newburg, Connie (David) Engg, Maxbass, Lee Ann Klein, Minot, and Colleen (Ken Eraas) Houmann, Norwich; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Larry was preceded in death by: his parents.

Funeral: 12 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 (Please note the date), at Dovre Lutheran Church, Newburg. A video of the service will be available after the service. A link will be placed on his online obituary.

Burial: Graceland Cemetery, Maxbass. The burial will take place in the spring of 2025.

Visitation: 10 a.m. until the service time, Saturday, at the church. Friends may also sign the online guestbook at brosefuneralhome.com.

Memorials: Memorials preferred to an organization of the donor’s choice.

(Brose Funeral Home, Mohall)

Published by The Minot Daily News, January 2, 2025.