Merita Fern Larson

Merita Fern Larson, age 94, of McCook, NE passed away on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at Great Plains Medical Center in North Platte, NE.

Merita was born October 9, 1927 in Hamlet to Edward M. and Ethel (Stratton) Holmes, the youngest of three siblings.  She attended school in Wauneta, NE, and graduated from high school in 1945.

Merita grew up on the family homestead near Hamlet, Nebraska and fondly remembered using a rope bridge and playing on the banks of the Frenchman with her brother and sister.

Merita married Victor Larson on June 18, 1945 in Atwood, Kansas.  The couple became the proud parents of three sons:  Larry, Jerry and Vic.  Merita later married Robert Kindervag on June 12, 1982 in McCook.

In 1970, at the age of 43, after being a stay-at-home Mom, she knew she needed to work outside the home.  She sought and accepted a position at St. Catherine Hospital in the Accounting Office.  With no formal training or experience in accounting, this was truly a gift from God.   Merita retired from McCook Community Hospital in 1992.

Merita enjoyed working in the yard and tending to her flowers, plants and trees.  She was very fond of cats. She had many different cats in her home during her life, and fed many strays on her back doorstep.

Merita was a member of the First Congregational Church.

Merita was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; brother, Arland Holmes; sister, Lavina LaSalle; and her daughter in law, Cindy Larson.

Those left to celebrate her life include her sons, Larry (Kathy) Larson of Wichita, KS, Jerry Larson of McCook and Vic (Sharon) Larson of Eustis, NE; six grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.