Obituary of Sybil Darlene Larson

Sybil Darlene Larson (Wabschall), 74, passed April 28, 2013, with her family by her side in Olympia, Wash. She fought a long battle with rheumatoid arthritis and pulmonary arterial hypertension. While her pain was great, she seldom complained and when asked how she was, always responded, “I’m fine.” Sybil was born January 4, 1939, in Williston, North Dakota to Florence and Archie Wabschall. She graduated from Williston High School in 1957 and married Donald T. Larson on November 22, 1957. Their wedding night was spent with Don’s brother Leonard, protecting his little brother, and Don’s grandparents showing up the next morning at 8 a.m. with their wedding gift. They still have that wedding gift, a pink wool blanket. When Don was hurt in an oilfield accident in 1960, Sybil cared for him through years of surgeries. Don later spent years tending to Sybil as her health deteriorated. While Williston was always home, they spent 17 years in Centralia, Washington, while Don worked on the North Slope of Alaska. They returned to Williston in 1995 and moved to Olympia, Washington in 2011 to be closer to their children. Sybil is survived by her husband of 55 years, Donald T.; daughters, Brenda Orth and Becky Larson; son, Bruce Larson; grandchildren, Amanda Laws, Reid Larson and Thomas Weist Jr.; and sisters, Shirley Edmonds and Laura Oyen. Sybil was a wonderful baker and always enjoyed trying new recipes and sharing them. Her lefsa was prized by friends and relatives. Having worked as head bookkeeper at First National Bank in Williston for many years, Sybil was excellent with numbers and that talent made her a great game player. Time spent with family and friends were special times. Many knew and called her Sybil Darling, a nickname given to her by her daughter’s friends in the ‘70s. Sybil had a special place in her heart for angels. A collection of porcelain angels has always adorned her home. Sybil Darling, you may be gone from this earth, but you are the angel who will remain in our hearts. The family requests memorial contributions be sent to one of the following charities — Pulmonary Hypertension Association, 801 Roeder Road Suite 1000, Silver Spring, Md. 20910 www.PHAssociation.org Thurston County Food Bank, 220 Thurston Ave NE, Olympia, WA 98501 Upper Missouri Ministries, P.O. Box 111, Epping, ND 58843