Marion "Marnie" Brogaard Larsen

Marion "Marnie" (Hansen) Larsen was born to parents, Carl Peter and Clara (Nielsen) Hansen, on September 6, 1930, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She grew up as the youngest of three children on the family farm on the outskirts of Cedar Falls. Grades one through eight were held in a one-room school house a mile from the farm. Marnie was confirmed in the Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church on April 2, 1944. This marked the beginning of a lifelong devotion to studying the gospel wherever she went.

Marnie attended Teacher's College High School, graduating at the young age of 15 on May 23, 1946. After High School, she attended AIB College of Business in Des Moines, Iowa, learning business office skills. She also attended Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. Intermingled with her academic studies, she headed to Los Angeles, CA. She worked for the Royal Typewriter Company and Bell Telephone and attended Olivet Lutheran Church in Hawthorne, CA.

On October 25, 1952, Marnie married Richard Dale Larsen, a Korean War Veteran from Culbertson, MT, who was living in Cedar Falls, following his time serving in the US Navy. Richard subsequently enrolled in Montana State University in Bozeman, MT, on the GI Bill. Marnie worked while Richard attended classes.

Richard's education and career led to many moves during the early years of their marriage: Bozeman, MT; Spokane, WA; Park Forest, IL; Newark, OH; Jackson, TN; Waverly, TN; Lancaster, PA; and finally, Darien, CT. During these years with many transitions, she raised 4 children and had many adventures. As a family, they enjoyed boating, fishing, skiing and camping.

In 1976, after getting divorced, Marnie moved back to Cedar Falls to be closer to her family. She worked in administrative roles at both University of Northern Iowa and then John Deere. She also took classes at the University of Northern Iowa, ultimately earning her undergraduate degree in Business and General Studies in her 60s.

Marnie took early retirement in 1993 and relocated to Boise, ID, to be closer to her son, Jeff, and some of her grandchildren living there. This also brought Marnie closer to the ski slopes of the west which she enjoyed well into her 70s. She also tried ziplining and white-water rafting. Marnie enjoyed attending worship at any church with an active Adult Sunday School class, whether it was Presbyterian, Methodist or Lutheran.

Marnie had a lifelong interest in learning and in travel. In her retirement, she attended classes at Boise State University and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. She enjoyed travelling and trekking around the world exploring all corners of the United States, Europe, as well as far flung destinations such as Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Japan, Costa Rica and Mexico.

In 2023, Marnie moved along with her son Jeff to Costa Mesa, CA, where she resided at Vivante Newport Mesa. She enjoyed the far more temperate year-round weather for walking and being outside. On Sundays, she liked to attend the simulcast of St Andrews Presbyterian Church.

Marnie, 95, passed away on December 29, 2025, in Costa Mesa, CA. She is survived by her children: Larry Larsen, Brian Larsen, Julie (Larsen) Foley and Jeffrey Larsen; 5 grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. She is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Gordon Hansen and her sister, Virginia (Hansen) Roberts.

Visitation will be from 5-7:00 pm on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, and Service at 11:00 am on Thursday, January 22, 2026, with private burial at Greenwood Cemetery in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Marnie's family would like you to dress comfortably for an Iowa Winter. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research or your favorite charity.