Elizabeth Larson

MISSOULA - Our loving daughter and angel, Elizabeth Marie Larson, went to meet our Lord on December. 10, 2008, after a 4 1/2-year battle with neuroblastoma cancer. She was diagnosed in September 2004. Throughout her journey, Elizabeth had endured four surgeries, a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, followed by monoclonal test drugs to build her immune system.





Elizabeth had her daddy wrapped around her finger and her mother constant by her side. She was known as “Sissy” to her big brother, “Pumpkin Pie” to her daddy, and “Sister” to her mom. Other nicknames were “Smiley Joe from Idaho,” “Sassy Pants,” “Sister Sue,” “Liz,” and “Lizzy Lou.”





Elizabeth was an unbelievable fighter and nothing slowed her down, especially going to the park (one of the 24 she had come to know in Spokane), after a full day of radiation and chemo treatments. She outlasted her family members on numerous occasions and left them in the dust, occasionally reminding them that they were not the sick ones and she wanted to play.





While in Seattle during bone marrow transplant in 2005, the places she visited were the Seattle Museum, Aquarium, Space Needle and Bremerton Ferry. She also discovered and loved seafood down at the Warf. Throughout her travels in the last four years, she had been to Disneyland and to Camp Sunshine in Maine sponsored by Tropical Smoothie. She has traveled from coast to coast and has seen the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans, where she tasted her first lobster. A large percentage of her travelling was done by airplane or helicopter.





Sleepovers, swimming, crafts, playing Barbies and going to the cabin where she loved to drive the yellow bomber and ride horses with her beloved brother, Clayton, and cousins were among her favorite things to do. She also loved Sponge Bob Square Pants and recently had her room painted by her uncle Mike Parker with Sponge Bob characters. Her favorite colors were blue and pink.





Elizabeth also had a great love for babies and animals. She could often be found carting around her baby doll unless there was an opportunity to hold the real thing or premies (cremies, as she would call them). She helped take care of the family bunnies, guinea pigs, and puppies, along with her family dog Rosie.





Her infectious laugh and dimple on her cheek when she smiled were familiar as she always remained cheerful, even throughout her illness. Her wit and quick sense of humor always kept everyone around her positive. Elizabeth was very comical when she was playing the sassy little boss and often let everyone know who was in charge and how things needed to be done. She was also very bright and sharp. It was very seldom that someone could pull her leg or slip something by her. She enjoyed school when she could attend and will be missed by many Frenchtown classmates.





According to Elizabeth, no one could make scotch roos or mac 'n' cheese like Grandma. She also loved mint ice cream, orange and blue popsicles and eating the pepperoni off her pizza first. She shared a love for chocolates with her Daddy and no one had better touch their chocolates.





It was her dream to one day own a nail salon and she was lovingly given the opportunity by Jen at Gifted Hands Salon in Frenchtown, not knowing it would be her last wish come true. Elizabeth painting nails for friends and family was a true delight for her. The outpouring of community kindness and compassion was remarkable as Elizabeth was booked solid for the few hours she was there, which we believe had given us more time than expected with her on this earth. She was quite a little entrepreneur and had a mind for business which she also demonstrated in many lemonade and cookie stands, along with selling everything out of her mother's pantry.





Time after time, Elizabeth surprised Dr. Judy and others at the hospital with her faster than expected recoveries from various treatments and will also be remembered in medical journals. Elizabeth packed a lifetime in her 8 years with us. Cancer did not run her life but was just part of her life.





Elizabeth will forever live in our hearts and memories. Her love and zest for life have been an inspiration to all who knew her. Her experience with cancer was not in vain as the research learned throughout her treatment will save children who are victims of this devastating disease in the future.





Elizabeth is lovingly remembered and survived by her parents, Bob and Shirley; big brother, Clayton; and grandparents, Clarence “Pin” and Ann Larson and Cecil Bond; the Larson family, Debbie (Ann Marie and Rachele) and Mike Parker, Mike and Laurie, (Michaella, Lindsey, Blayne), Bill (Luke, Emilie, Sarah), Janice and Mike Harrington (John, Josh), Donnie and Kris (Meagan, Molly); and the Bond family, Bob (Joan, Eric, Juli, Jamie, Rob) and Paula Hall, Jim and Jane (Jenna, Chelsea), Heather Muchmore and Dustin Bond. Special friends and family include Terri Angelo and family of Drummond and Richelle and Steve Mills and family of Spokane.





Elizabeth was preceded in death by Grandma Marie Bond; uncles John Bond, John Larson and her special buddy, Denny Palmer.





A special thanks to Dr. Judy Felgenhauer and staff at Sacred Heart Medical Center of Spokane for giving Elizabeth a home away from home with excellent, loving care. Also, thanks to Dr. Eric Kress, nurse Judy Brester and staff from Western Montana Clinic for taking her on and enabling her family to have more quality time at home instead of being on the road all the time. We could not have had any kind of normal life without you.





Vigil services will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, December. 16, at 7 p.m. at Garden City Funeral Home, 1705 W. Broadway. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, December. 17, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 420 Pine St., with reception following at St. Anthony Parish Center, 217 Tremont St.





Donations can be sent to the Jadyn Fred Foundation, Guardian Angels, Missoula County Cancer Society (Fred and Shirley Lerch) or Candlelighters in Spokane at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital.
Read Elizabeth Larson's Obituary and Guestbook.