Peter Larsen passed away in Rawlins, Wyo. on Dec. 22, 2014 at the age of 94. He was born in Rawlins on May 10, 1920 to Louis Christian “Chris” Larsen and Martha Hansen Larsen, whose parents immigrated to Wyoming from Denmark in the 1880’s. Peter grew up in Rawlins with his six brothers and sisters. His father’s family owned the H. Larsen Inc. lumberyard and hardware store. He graduated from Rawlins High School.
During World War II, Peter was a mechanic in the 14th U.S. Air Force, the famous “Flying Tigers” who supported Chinese and American troops fighting Japan. He arrived in India on Christmas Day, 1943 and soon flew the ‘hump’ over the Himalayas to Kunming, China. Peter proudly wore the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with a battle star and remained in touch with his 14th Air Force veterans.
After the war, he and his brother Bob moved to the Hansen family ranch that their grandfather, Peter Hansen, purchased and homesteaded in 1905, south of Rawlins adjacent to the Medicine Bow National Forest.
Peter met Ella Hartman in Rawlins and they married in January 1947. They lived year-around at the ranch from 1947 to the early 1970’s. Peter ably managed the family’s land, maintained its water rights and was an innovative rancher. From turkeys to the first Charolais cattle in the region, Peter was known for the quality of his hay crop and irrigation prowess. He experimented with rice and barley and trapped and processed beaver.
Peter was an excellent marksman and licensed guide, leading antelope, deer, elk and bear hunters while Ella provided outstanding board and room. They hosted ‘dudes’ during the summers, sending young people back home with a new life experience. Like his father, Peter was a rock hound, searching out arrowheads, jade, quartz and moss agates. He was a master wood carver, given the long and cold winters at the ranch.
He and Ella hosted their siblings’ families at the ranch for three decades, including many nieces and nephews who have wonderful memories helping Uncle Peter clear beaver dams from irrigation ditches, bail and stack hay, repair equipment, operate the fresh milk separator, brand calves, herd stray cows, and for Ella, retrieve eggs from the chicken coup and harvest potatoes.
In anticipation of retirement, Peter designed and built a round, energy efficient home in Saratoga. They began spending the winters there in the 1970’s. Peter cared for Ella for 11 years after she suffered a stroke, while keeping the ranch and hunting operations going with help from family and friends. Ella passed away in 1992. Peter’s health declined and his brother Charles took over the ranch.
Peter married Kathy Matson in 1993. They lived throughout Wyoming, settling in Gold Beach, Ore. where he loved exploring the beach. He returned to Wyoming and was divorced from Kathy. He lived at the Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation in Rawlins. He was lovingly cared for by Karen Larsen with incredible support from Cindy Bloomquist, Kristi Groshart and many friends and family. He died peacefully on Dec. 22, 2014.
Peter H. Larsen is survived by his brother Raymond B. Larsen of Laramie, his sister Nancy A. Malone of Littleton, Colo. and 22 nieces and nephews including Ella’s niece, Sue Crist Aalfs, and, more than 30 great nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Peter Larsen and his brother Bob, who passed away in Laramie on July 22, 2015, was held at the Peter Hansen Ranch on Aug. 22. Family and friends told stories of Peter and Ella’s life at the ranch. Peter now rests with Ella overlooking the hay meadow amidst a quartz outline of their Bottle Bar brand that they created over many years.
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