Arthur William Larson, 84

Arthur William Larson was born May 26, 1941 at the Old Graham hospital in Sandpoint, Idaho, to Gunnar (Connie) and Mary Blanche (Blanche) (Wolfe) Larson. He died Oct. 28, 2025, at the age of 84 years old.

Art attended all eight grades of grammar school in Sagle, Idaho, and graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1959. He spent the summer in Oaksdale, Wash., before starting his lifelong career in the U.S. Army. He enlisted January 1960 and only went for three years at this time. Basic training, Ford Ord, Calif.; advanced training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., as a heavy equipment operator. Further assigned to Kornwestheim, West Germany, serving the balance of his 3 years to 1962.

He met a Wast German Lady (Gundi) who had 6-month-old twins, Tammy and Donnie and he sent them home from Germany before he was out at that time. He married Gundi in December 1962. They moved to Lewiston, Idaho, where Art served a 5-year apprenticeship as a plumber and welder. He had joined the National Guard as well.

After 6 years and 9 months of being a civilian, Art received a letter saying that he was to be recalled back into the U.S. Army on active duty. Art was stationed in Germany for 9 months and then was sent to Vietnam for 12 months. Just before leaving Vietnam (1970-1971) he made the decision to stay in the service as he hated looking for a job. From then on it was back and forth to West Germany, additional areas that were assigned were France, Turkey, Panama, and the Middle East.

Throughout his military career he received many significant awards and promotions. Art always making promotions in the 5% listings. After 19 years of service, he attained the most prestigious and highest rank in the enlisted chain, Command Sergeant Major. Along with the promotions were many, many letters of commendation and recommendations. Over a total of 150 and to include some very high medals. Noteworthy of some were the Legion of Merit, four awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal and a host of others. There are a total of 14 medals in all. A note of history Art was in Berlin, West Germany, in 1961 when the Berlin Wall was being built and again in Berlin, West Germany, when the same wall was torn down. He was assigned various times to Germany for a total of 19 years.

After he got a divorce from Gundi, he married Gwen who had a couple of daughters, Annette and Jessie. Art retired from active duty out of Fort Benning, Ga., for a total of 32 1/2 years.

Art went to work for a propane dealership company for the next couple of years before moving to Springfield, Ore., to meet up with his high school sweetheart, Gladys Zordell, getting married Jan. 19, 1996. He brought his basset hound, Mandy with him. Art went to work for another propane dealership company out of Eugene, Ore., and worked there for the next couple of years before moving back to the Sandpoint, Idaho, area in 1998.

Art bought a ranch of 18 acres (Sept. 4, 1999) in Naples, Idaho, and lived there for the next 23 years and 3 months before moving to Ponderay, Idaho. During those 23 years at Naples, he had gotten a young horse that he trained and became his pride and joy. He rode Zoie from our place out to the state land and made all kinds of trails that though the years many people rode with him on long horseback rides with potlucks afterward.

When first getting together with Gladys, they started square dancing in Eugene, Ore., and then in the area here for a total of 16 years.

They joined the Cocolalla Cowboy Church and were members for the next 21 years until it was sold to the Cocolalla Bible Church. Art helped build the building that houses the church.

Art is predeceased by his parents, Gunnar (Connie) and Blache Larson, stepdaughter Jessie, and stepson Tory, step-grandson TJ. He is survived by his three children: Tammy Larson, Culdesac, Idaho; Donnie and daughter-in-law Annette (moving to Virginia), and Gunnar and daughter-in-law Kelly, Frankinton, N.C.; grandchildren Gunnar, Matthew, and Seth; four great-grandchildren; stepsons Tim Fort, Fargo, N.D., Tracy Fort, Spirit Lake, Idaho, and stepdaughter Tonya and son-in-law Daniel Petruss, Spokane, Wash.; step-grandkids Bobbie Jo McElyea, Brian and granddaughter-in-law Heather, John and granddaughter-in-law Ann, Spokane, Wash., granddaughter Mariah with grandson-in-law Dillon Starkey, Priest River, Idaho; step-grandson Patrick and granddaughter-in-law Rae Ann Fort, Grants Pass, Ore.; step-granddaughter Elizabeth Fort, step-grandson Andrew Fort, Ponderay, Idaho, and step-granddaughter Sylvia Fort, Maine; and 30 great-grandkids. 

A special thanks to all of the friends who shared their love with him, and for the hospice nurses who cared with much love and tenderness. Heather, Destiny, and Jennifer. I can’t thank them enough for their kindness.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, Nov. 13, at 11 a.m. at the Cocolalla Bible Church with Steve Brown and Steve Bradshaw officiating with full military honors.

Family and friends are invited to sign Arthur's online guest book at coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.