Leona “Babe” Alma Larson, 96, of Woonsocket, passed away Sunday Dec. 10, 2023, at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Woonsocket.  

Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 18, at the Spirit of Faith Lutheran-Methodist Church in Woonsocket.  Visitations were at the church Sunday with a prayer service; Pastor John Anderson officiated. Burial was in the Eventide Cemetery, Woonsocket.  Arrangements were by Basham Funeral Service, Woonsocket. 

Leona “Babe” Alma Forbes was born Feb. 10, 1927, at home in rural Letcher to Harry and Gertie (Staller) Forbes. Growing up in the country, she attended country school. Babe graduated from the eighth grade. She married Arthur W. Larson on Nov. 25, 1944. To this union, seven children were born.  She and Arthur worked their farm together southwest of Woonsocket where they lived for 60 years.  She was baptized in the Bethany Lutheran Church by Rev. Dr. Wayne Shay on April 8, 1960 and was a member thereafter. They moved to Woonsocket in 2007. Art preceded her in death on Feb. 16, 2017.  

Babe was a Gold Star mother through the American Legion Auxiliary due to her son, Marvin Dean Larson, dying in the Vietnam War in 1969.

Babe had a passion for horses and enjoyed many trail rides.  She won many trophies and ribbons riding in horse shows. She enjoyed crocheting, and many afghans and potholders were made during those years living in town. She was also an avid reader.

Babe is survived by her sons, Jerry (Sharon) Larson of Shawmut, Mont., Daniel “Dan” (Jannet) Larson of Henderson, Nev., and Alan Larson of Woonsocket; daughter, Linda (Randy) Verba of Woonsocket; daughters-in-law, Sue Larson and April Larson, both of Woonsocket; 19 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Amanda “Mandy” Schulz, Alma (Carl) Fielder and Beverly Larson. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Art; three sons, Marvin, Marion and Robert; a grandson, Troy; one brother, LeRoy; and several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

Leona “Babe” Alma Larson, 96, of Woonsocket, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Woonsocket.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 18, at the Spirit of Faith Lutheran-Methodist Church in Woonsocket at 10 a.m. Visitations at the church will be Sunday from 5:30-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Pastor John Anderson will be officiating. Burial is at the Eventide Cemetery in Woonsocket. Arrangements are by Basham Funeral Service, Woonsocket.

Colleen “Cookie” Gay Sundstrom, 74, of Chestertown, Md., passed away on Oct. 21, 2023, several days after suffering a stroke at her home.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Dec. 15, at the Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River Church. A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring in South Dakota.

Colleen was born Sept. 18, 1949, to Lawrence and Gayle Sundstrom in Mitchell. She grew up in Letcher and Artesian, graduating in 1967 from Artesian High School. Colleen moved East after graduation to attend Vassar College in New York.

Colleen spent her adult life in the District of Columbia and Maryland, initially working in community projects and then computer programming. After completing her education at the University of Maryland, she worked in public health research at Howard University, and she concluded her working career as a civilian employee of the United States Army, specializing in human subject protection in medical research.

Colleen retired to Chestertown, Md., in 2013. In retirement, she shared her experience and knowledge as a volunteer instructor at the Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning, and she was active with The Samaritan Group, Chestertown River Arts, Friends of the Library, and the Kent County Democratic Party. She traveled widely and was a lifelong student of ethics, philosophy, art and art history.

Colleen is survived by her brothers, Mike Sundstrom of Edgemont and Bob (Hazel) Sundstrom of Sheldon, Iowa; her sister, Lola Shattuck of Seguin, Texas; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister and brother-in-law, Sally and Clarence Olson; and brothers, Ron Ryan and Curt and Marvin Sundstrom.