Clifford G. "Kip" Larson

Clifford G. "Kip" Larson, age 95, of Yankton, passed away Saturday, January 03, 2015 at the Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD. Memorial services will be at 10:30 AM, Friday, January 9, 2015 at the Christ Church Episcopal, Yankton with Father Jim Pearson officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery with military graveside rites by the Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post #791 Honor Guard and the South Dakota Army National Guard Honor Guard. Visitations will be from 5-8 PM, Thursday, January 8, 2015 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.

Clifford 'Kip' Larson was born November 24, 1919 to John and Ida Larson in Yankton, South Dakota. He attended Yankton Public Schools and was a three sport letterman at Yankton High School. He was also homecoming king in 1938.

He served four years with the 550th Airborne Infantry.

He returned to Yankton and was married to K. Irene Keller in April 30, 1945. Together they had four children - Richard, Roger, Douglas and Karen. After Irene had passed, he married Shirley Moderegger on September 3, 2006.

He lived in Yankton and was an active in many associations supporting growth in Yankton and South Dakota. He was a past Commander of VFW Post 791, past president of the Yankton Restaurant Association and the South Dakota Restaurant Association. He was elected to one term of the Yankton City Commission, past chairman of the Sacred Heart Hospital Board of Trustees, and past chairman of the South Dakota Tourism Committee which he served on for 10 years. He was active in the Yankton Chamber of Commerce also.

He was an avid supporter of Yankton High School and Yankton College athletics.

He owned and operated Kips Blue Moon Drive Inn which later became a full service restaurant Kips Inn. He was an influence on a number of young people who had worked for him.

He is survived by his wife Shirley, Yankton: her daughters: Shirley Ann Doerr, Yankton, Beth Kathol, Yankton, and Janice Giacalone, Austin, TX. His sister, Phyllis Berg (Spencer) and his children: Richard (Patricia Lawyer), Milford, OH, Roger Mill, Valley, CA, Douglas (Val Stanage) and Karen Larson, Greeley, CO. His grandchildren: Matt Larson, Yankton, Adam Larson, Colorado Springs, CO, Abby Larson, Yankton, and Sara Blom, Yankton, Justin Larson, Alexandria, VA, Kati Larson, Mt Pleasant, SC, Bryce Larson, Boston, MA, and Zachary Larson, Milford, OH. His children by the union with Shirley - Shirley Ann Doerr, Yankton, Janice Giacalone, Austin, TX, and Beth Kathol, Yankton.

He had 8 great grandchildren - Cody, Connor, Dakota, Vera, Carl, Emery, Emelia, and Max. He also had an additional 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren with Shirley.

He was preceded in death by his wife, K. Irene, his parents, John and Ida Larson, his brother Joseph, his sisters Inez Harris and Edith Pike.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be sent to Yankton High School Athletics Department, 2410 West City Limits Road, Yankton, SD 57078 or the VFW Post #791 - Teener Baseball, PO Box 299, Yankton, SD 57078.