Our Staff

Jade Petznick

Managing Funeral Director

Jade Petznick was born and raised in Northwood, Iowa. He attended North Iowa Area Community College and later Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. In 1992, he graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and worked for funeral homes in Cincinnati as well as Mason City, Iowa. Jade has been living in Pelican Rapids and serving the community as the Manager of Larson Funeral Home since 1994.

In 1998, Jade married Lisa Haugrud, and they have three sons: Matt, Logan, and Brady. The family resides on Tamarac Lake near Pelican Rapids. Jade is a member of Grove Lake Lutheran Church and Pelican Rapids Jaycees, formerly serving various leadership roles with both. He enjoys spending time with his sons, especially doing outdoor activities.

Duane Morey

Funeral Director

Duane Morey is a funeral director who started working at the Larson Funeral Home in November of 2012. Duane was born in Thief River Falls and moved to rural Barnesville (Lawndale) when he was in elementary school. When Duane was a sophomore in high school, his health teacher, Gayle Solum, took students on a tour of the funeral home with John Dobmeier. That sparked an interest in Duane. He later attended Minnesota State University Moorhead and then graduated from Mid-America College of Funeral Service near Louisville, KY. He has been a licensed funeral director since 1995 and has worked in Onamia, MN, and Fargo, ND. For 13 years, he worked at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Duane’s duties involve managing the Dobmeier Funeral Home in Barnesville and also working closely with Jade Petznik at Larson Funeral Home. This is a great working relationship that helps both funeral directors get family time in. During the winter, Duane’s family time involves hockey, being a dad, and more hockey. Summer time is spent with family at the lake. Duane has almost 20 years of experience in funeral service and strives to help each and every family as they experience the loss of a loved one.

Milo Larson

Funeral Director/Past Owner

Milo D. Larson was born and raised in Alexandria, Minnesota. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and later attended the University of Minnesota, where he graduated with his degree in mortuary science. He worked with Ivers Funeral Home in Fargo, North Dakota, and partnered with Paul Korsmo at Korsmo Funeral Service in Moorhead, Minnesota, in 1963. Milo and his wife, Marjorie, purchased Johnson Funeral Home in Pelican Rapids in 1970, which he owned and operated until 1995. Milo continues to be active at Larson Funeral Home on a part-time basis. He now enjoys fishing, boating, golfing, and caring for his flowers and lawn at their home on Lake Lizzie. The couple spends their winters in Florida where Milo enjoys golfing, boating in the Gulf, and playing tennis. Milo was an active member of the Rotary Club in Pelican Rapids for many years and the American Legion for 52 years; he is also a member of the Fergus Falls Elks Club and the Detroit Lakes Eagles Club. He and Marjorie are members of Faith Lutheran Church in Pelican Rapids.

Marjorie Larson

Former Owner/Funeral Assistant

Marjorie Larson was born in Iowa and raised on a farm near Litchville, North Dakota. She attended Interstate Business College in Fargo. She married Milo Larson in Fargo, and they lived in Moorhead until 1970 when they moved to Pelican Rapids, MN. She became an active partner with her husband after her children reached school age. She and Milo have three children and three grandchildren. They spend their winters in Florida where she enjoys playing tennis and shelling. She continues to help at Larson Funeral Home during the summer months.

Julie Kugler

Office Manager

Julie Kugler was born in Detroit Lakes, grew up around the Franklin Lake area. She went to school here in Pelican Rapids. She is married to Mike Kugler, they have two children and two grandchildren. She started working at Larson Funeral Home in February 2016; she also works as a beautician at Pelican Valley Health Center. Julie is a member of Zion Lutheran Church on Franklin Lake.  She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, camping, going to craft shows, scrapbooking, and enjoys time with her family. 

Richard Carlson

Funeral Assistant

Richard lives on a farm west of Erhard with his wife, Alice. They are the parents of four children and have ten grandchildren. Richard owned and operated a dairy farm until 1998, when he began raising beef cattle. He continues to grain farm, and he joined Larson Funeral Home in 2000. His hobbies include music (especially playing guitar and singing with his grandchildren), family camping, horseback riding, photography, watching movies, and keeping rainfall records. Richard is a member of Central Lutheran Church of rural Pelican Rapids.

Mary Melroe

Funeral Assistance/Grief Care Coordinator

Mary was born and raised in SE North Dakota and graduated from NDSU.

She lived in Williston, ND for six years before moving to Fargo in 1977, where she raised her three sons. Mary moved to Dunvilla on Lake Lizzie in 1997. She has four granddaughters who love spending time at the lake.

In 2013 Mary retired from Concordia College, after 27 years in the Advancement Office. She joined the staff at Larson Funeral Home in 2015, and serves as a Funeral Assistant and Grief Care Coordinator.

Mary is an active member of Zion Lutheran Church on Franklin Lake.

Wayne Bakken

Funeral Assistant

Tom Bruns

Funeral Assistant