On May 2, 2012, B.G. "Skip" Larson finally retired his law practice, at the age of 88 1/2. He was born on October 12, 1923 in Muskegon, Michigan, the son of Adolf G. and Fannie (Gardner) Larson. Skip graduated from Muskegon, Michigan High School in 1941. After high school he attended Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio; Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington;, and St. Mary's College in San Francisco, California. Skip enlisted as a cadet in the Navy pilot program on December 7, 1942. While in the Navy he trained at the Norman Naval Air Station in Norman, Oklahoma and at Corpus Christi, Texas graduating as an Ensign on November 1, 1944. He later trained in PBY's in Jacksonville, Florida Naval Air Station and later transferred to San Diego, California when World War II ended. After World War II, Skip enrolled at the University of Colorado at Boulder majoring in Political Science and Economics and in 1948, he enrolled in law school at the University of Colorado and graduated in December of 1950.
After graduating from law school, he moved to Dodge City in March 1951 and became a partner in the Van Riper, Williams, Hughes and Larson Law Firm in 1952. In April of 1953, he applied for City Attorney and was appointed to that position serving as the city attorney of Dodge City from 1953 to 1961. As city attorney, he condemned property from 7th Avenue to the city limits so that West Chestnut could be widened and changed to Wyatt Earp Blvd. He also drew up the ordinance changing Walnut Street to Gunsmoke. Skip was a member of the Kansas and American Bar Associations, Kansas Association of Defense Counsel, and Defense Research Institute, Inc. Mr. Larson was Chairman of the 1966 Longhorn Cattle Drive celebration, which drove 150 steers from San Antonio, Texas to Dodge City. In March 1989 Mr. Larson left the law firm of Williams, Larson, Strobel, Estes, Malone and Mason P.A. and went into private practice. He also worked several years for ARSI in Dodge City.
Mr. Larson was an avid golfer, swimmer, snow skier, sailor, and pilot. He also enjoyed mowing and planting flowers at his home.
Skip is survived by his wife, Jeanette, of the home; four children and one grandchild, Ted Larson of Boulder, Colorado, Eric Larson and son Tanner Larson, Charlie Larson and Jeffrey Larson, and Dr. Lora Larson and Brad Pickle all of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and one sister, Bernadine Dykstra of Grandville, Michigan He is also survived by many extended family members.
Following Mr. Larson's wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on Monday June 25, 2012 at 10:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Dodge City, with inurnment to follow at the Kansas Veterans Cemtery at Ft. Dodge. Memorials may be made to the BG "Skip" Larson Memorial fund in care of Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City.