Royce Larsen

Royce Larsen, 88, of Alta died Dec. 14, 2025, at Accura Healthcare in Aurelia.  

Royce Charles Larsen was born Oct. 21, 1937, to Ernest Larsen and Irene Wood Larsen. He was born on the family farm northeast of Newell. Welcoming him home were older brothers, Richard and Dean.  

Royce was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist Church in Newell. He attended Newell Community School and graduated in 1955. Royce was the first student from Newell to earn the American Farmer Award in 1956. He was very proud when his grandson, Cole, earned the same award some 50 years later. He also earned an Iowa Farmer award during this time.  

After graduation, Royce enrolled at Iowa State College and earned a degree in agricultural education in 1959. His was the last class to graduate from the state college before it became Iowa State University in 1960.

After graduation, Royce accepted a teaching position in Hartley as the vocational agriculture teacher. The friendships he developed in Hartley lasted a lifetime, but the farm kept calling him back. After three years, Royce returned to Newell to take up farming, a vocation he loved. He farmed for 45 years, was a steward of the land and a compassionate livestock owner. Raising hogs for Kent Feeds and cultivating crops of corn and soybeans brought him great joy. Royce was a Master Pork Producer in 1968. During these farming years, Royce also served on the Co-op Elevator Board, Pork Producers Board and St. Peter Lutheran Church Board. Giving back was part of his life and he also served on the Newell-Providence School Board for 12 years, eight of those as president. 

Upon retirement, Royce and Marcyne built a home in Alta and settled in. But retirement was boring for Royce and he went back to work at the Pioneer Seed Plant in Aurelia. Again, he made new friends, learned new skills and worked there another five years. You could always count on Royce telling a good joke.  

Royce Larsen married Marcyne Weitzel on the farm on July 3, 1982. Together they blended their five daughters into one family. In addition to his wife, Marcyne, those left to remember him are his daughters: Kimberly Larsen (Mary Beth) of Asheville, N.C.; Terri Demers (Doug) of Blair, Neb.; and Synthia Magnussen (Duane) of Newell; and stepdaughters: Mylynn Hanson (Wade) of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Rhonda Crandall (Don) of Chandler, Ariz.

Royce is also survived by five grandchildren: Cole Magnussen (Ashley) of Sioux Rapids; Stephanie Iverso, (Zach) of Brandon, S.D.; Amy McIntosh (Andrew) of Omaha, Neb.; Morgan Feltner (Cole) of Alta; and Michael Demers (Sarah) of Elkhorn, Neb. Five step grandchildren added to the joy: Paige Korn of Mount Vernon, Wash.; Cassidy LaMarca (Veronica) of Chandler, Ariz.; Brett Korn of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Britney Randolph (Josh) of Manning; and Evan Hanson of Yankton, S.D. Royce's great-grandchildren brought him much happiness and he looked forward to their visits: Sawyer, Walker and Chloe Magnussen; Elliot and Calving Iverson; Ellie and Reed Feltner; Baby McIntosh due in March; Serenity Korn; and Seth, Zach and Jackson Randolph; along with many friends and neighbors left to celebrate his life.  

Royce was preceded in death by his parents; his two older brothers; and his parents-in-law, Clive and Gertie Simpson. Also passing before him were brother-in-law Floyd Simpson; and nephews: Randall Larsen, Kent Simpson and John Simpson.

A Funeral Service was held Friday, Dec. 19, at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Storm Lake.