Ronald Larsen

Ronald Larsen, 87, of New Ipswich, NH, passed peacefully at The Highlands, Fitchburg, on May 30, 2026. Ron was born in Bergen, Norway, on Nov 8, 1938, the firstborn son of Leif and Stefine (Hansen) Larsen. After WWII, the family immigrated to the US in 1950, settling in Fitchburg, MA. While Ron always retained immense pride in his Viking heritage, he embraced his new homeland and all that the USA represented.

Upon graduation from FHS in 1957, Ron served 6 years in the US Coast Guard. His tour of duty aboard an ice cutter to Thule, Greenland, had a lifelong impact. Ron was employed by Simonds Saw & Steel (later Simonds Industries) for more than 30 years, eventually rising to Operations Manager.

In his younger years, he played soccer and football, becoming a huge Patriots and NFL fan. He was an excellent golfer and pool player. He also loved cutting down trees to open up views of the Monadnock hills.

A man of simple pleasures, Ron spent his final two decades happy and content together with his wife in their home in New Ipswich, creating lawns and gardens, and surrounded by birch trees and the hills which reminded him of Bergen.

Ron leaves his wife, Jan; his daughters, Rhonda (Jon) Tapply, Merrimack, NH, and Lonni Larsen (Glenn Fuhs), Westford, MA; and stepdaughter Stephanie (Alexander) Krupyshev, Chelmsford, MA. He also leaves his sister Margareth “Peggy” (Jimmy) Muhnisky, Concord, NH; grandchildren Erica Pearson, Milford, NH, and Matthew L (Kimberly) Tapply, South Berwick, ME; step-grandchildren Nikolai Krupyshev, NYC, and Darya Krupysheva, Chicago, IL; great- grandchildren Zachary Tapply, Leia and Hunter Austin, Ethan and Logan Tapply; along with extended families. Ronald was predeceased by his parents, infant daughter Emilie, and two brothers, Freydar (Fred, “Hagar”), Lunenburg, MA, and Leifsteiner, Norway.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to UMass Memorial Health - Cancer Center at Burbank or your favorite Veterans organization.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, June 24, from 10 AM to 11:30 AM at Brandon Funeral Home in Fitchburg, MA, followed by a service in the funeral home at 11:30 AM.

Family and Friends will gather afterwards for a Celebration of Life and a Viking send-off at The Club at Oak Hill in New Ipswich, NH.

Burial of cremains will be at a later date.