SPENCER N. LARSEN, 85, of Arthur, passed away February 19, 2026, at Ogallala Community Hospital.
Spencer was born on August 18, 1940, in Haxtun, Colorado, to Eddie and Nell (Newbanks) Larsen. He grew up in the sandhills and graduated from Arthur County High School with the class of 1959.
On June 21, 1959, Spencer married Margaret “Marlene” Wilson. The couple made their home in Arthur, Greeley, CO, and Valentine before settling down in Arthur in 1971. Their union was blessed with 2 sons, Eddie and Renn.
In his early years, Spencer worked building grain elevators and ranching with Marlene’s family at the By The Way Ranch at Valentine. He raised hogs and was a longtime cattleman. He was an animal lover, and the dogs, cats, and livestock always seemed to have a sense for that. Spencer loved John Wayne movies and westerns.
Spencer worked at the Arthur Feed Store (Vinton Feed Store) for more than 40 years, beginning in the late 1970s. If an animal was fed in Arthur County, the feed likely passed through Spencer’s hands first. He handled countless tons of feed by hand over the years, handled salt blocks stacked impossibly high, and worked tirelessly to keep the store running smoothly. The store always served as a gathering place for coffee in the mornings and afternoons, and Spencer’s coffee garnered a reputation for being about as strong as he was, especially by the week’s end. He always kept a well-stocked candy jar for the kids to find; just a small gesture that would remain in the memories of countless kids who remember their time around Spencer and the store. Though he was as gritty and tough as they come, Spencer was known by many for his welcoming kindness. He would retire in 2017 after 40 years and 3 months.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings DeLoris Dancer, Bruce Larsen, and Gwen Larsen; and his son, Renn Lee Larsen.
Survivors include his wife, Marlene Larsen of Arthur; son, Eddie (Lisa) Larsen of Arthur; grandchildren, Bria Larsen and Brenna Larsen; siblings, Martin (Lydia) Larsen of Arthur, Joan Hines of Boulder City, Nevada, Mary Muller of Arthur, and Emma Robertson of Ogallala; sister-in-law, Joan Larsen; and many other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held on Friday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Ogallala.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 28, at 2:00 p.m. at the Arthur High School Gym, with Pastor Blake Wilkes officiating. Interment will follow in the Arthur Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Arthur Baptist Church. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com.
Prairie Hills Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.