MSU President's Newspaper Column
April 6, 2024
‘Farewell’ to friends who have made a difference
Mayville State University lost a very special friend last month. Curt Larson, age 91, passed away on March 24. Curt and his wife, Lydia, have been long-time friends and supporters of the university and our students. We extend our most sincere sympathy to Lydia and the Larson family.
Curt and Lydia lived in Mayville for many years, while Curt was a pharmacist at drug stores he owned in Mayville and Hillsboro. After retirement in 1988, they spent more time at their lake cabin in Minnesota in the summer. Sun Lakes, Ariz., became a winter destination, and after a while, the location of their permanent home.
I’ve had the great pleasure of knowing Curt and Lydia, and I am greatly impressed by the sincere interest they have taken in Mayville State University, and the generosity they have put forth in supporting the university and our students.
Curt’s obituary stated that “Curt was very generous and hospitable.” I can personally attest to that fact, and I very much enjoyed the opportunity to visit with him about various topics, but especially about Mayville State University and his desire to help students get off to a good start. He was eager to help others realize opportunities to make their lives better.
I’m told that Curt and Lydia were fantastic supporters of their community while they lived here. That did not change when they retired and eventually moved away. They have continued to remember the community and have been especially generous in supporting Mayville State University always.
It seems that they never took for granted the wonderful community where they spent the greater part of their lives. For this, they have earned the highest degree of respect and admiration, not only from me, but from countless others. In helping Mayville State students, Curt and Lydia have made a truly wonderful positive impact on the community. The ripple effect of their kindness and generosity is immeasurable in this community and beyond.
While Curt has left this life, the goodness he and Lydia have so freely shared continues to live on in others and in so many ways. We are truly grateful for Curt and Lydia. They will always be treasured friends who have a special place in our hearts and who have made a lasting positive difference in this community and at Mayville State University.
We said “farewell” to another Mayville State friend this week when Head Women’s Basketball Coach Dennis Hutter let us know of his decision to take an associate head coach position with the women’s basketball program at the University of North Dakota. Coach Hutter has been at Mayville State for 19 seasons, and he led our team through a history-making season in 2023-24.
With success comes opportunity, and that is what happened for Coach Hutter. Dennis Hutter has made a positive impact and built a legacy for Mayville State Women’s Basketball. We are grateful and thank him for his service to the university and its students. We wish him all the best in his new venture, and we’ll be rooting for his future teams, as long as they’re not playing against the Comets.
The title of the Michael W. Smith song, “Friends are Friends Forever,” comes to mind. While we’ll miss not having Curt and Dennis in our presence in a way that we’ve become accustomed to over the years, they remain a part of us through the things they have said and done. We are happy for the gift of knowing them, and we are forever grateful for the impact they’ve made in our lives.