Betty Sue Larson passed away peacefully at Beebe Nursing & Rehab on Saturday afternoon, December 6, 2025, with family by her side. She was born on July 12, 1936, according to a family bible to Parents Oscar Arnold Brown and Versa Beatrice (Roberts) Brown of Rison, Arkansas. However, it wasn’t until 1955 when her father filed her birth with the Arkansas Board of Health stating her birthday as August 12, 1937.
Betty came from a large family including: three sisters, Virginia O’Neal, Estelle Hardy, and Linnie Mc Nabb; five brothers, Glen Brown, Lonnie Joe Brown, Raleigh Brown, Elmer Brown, and Bennie Sanders. Betty is survived by: her sister, Estelle Hardy, her two sons, Albert Larson (wife-Amber) of Oakdale, CA, and Eric Larson (wife-Dawn) of Carthage, TX; four granddaughters, Alyssa Larson Walker (husband-Seth) of Idaho, Anny Larson Podbielski (husband-Nolan) of CA, Brittany Larson (husband-Joe Fulp) of AR, Erica Larson of TX; four great-granddaughters, Kinley and Kemma Walker, Poppy Larson Podbielski, and Riley Larson. Step-grandchildren on Albert’s side include: Ashlyn & Camden Knight, Alissa Alvarez; and on Eric’s side; Aaron, Cora, and Hailey Thompson.
Betty graduated from Leavenworth High School in Kansas on May 26, 1955. She then served as an Army Specialist 3rd Class in the U.S. Army from August 31, 1955, to October 8, 1957. She was last assigned to William Beaumont Hospital as a Medical Technician when she received her Honorable Discharge.
During her time in the Army, she married her sweetheart, Melford (Mel) A. Larson of Gustine, CA on September 16, 1957, in New Mexico. Melford was serving in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot. Following their military service, Betty and Melford later settled in Manteca, CA where they raised their two boys. Betty was a full-time mom. She also served in the Boy Scouts as a Cub-Scout Master. Betty and Mel later divorced in the mid-1990s.
A Natural State Funeral Service will be hosting a Celebration of Life ceremony on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 2 PM at 2620 West Main Street in Jacksonville, AR 72076. We recommend arriving by 1:30pm.
Betty’s family will gather at a later date to bury her ashes at the Friendship Cemetery in Rison, Arkansas near her family.
Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com
2 Comments
We will miss my Dear Aunt Betty, she shared many stories with us about her growing up days, her Kansas days, and her California Days. She was very smart and what we would call supercool. Our hearts hurt at this time, thoughts and prayers to Albert and Eric and their families, she was one of a kind, someone very special to alot of us…
This is Debbie, one of Betty’s sister Virginia’s daughter, (David and Lamar) I remember taking a train from Maryland to go see my Aunt Betty in California in the early 1960s. We had alot of fun and it was the first time I ever saw the Pacific Ocean. My heartfelt condolences to Albert and Eric and their families…
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