Ada Copp Larson

ROCHESTER - Ada Copp Larson, a local Rochester artist passed away on February 16, 2010 at the age of 88. She was born January 29, 1922 in rural Lake City to Archer John and Grace Geppert Copp. At graduation, she was one of Lincoln HS Honored Top Ten Society, a member of the National Honor Society and received the Citizenship Award for being named top female student. She attended Red Wing Teacher Training, a branch of Winona State College and taught elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse in Wabasha County.In 1940, she married Warren E. Larson in Lake City and they moved to Rochester in 1945 where they established Queen City Decorators. In 1967, they purchased Bandow Larson Flower Shop. After that, Warren worked at People Natural Gas. Ada was an antique dealer for many years doing shows at Apache Mall and Oronoco Gold Rush. She was a Hospital Auxiliary Lobby Attendant at Methodist Hospital for 25 years, Mayo Clinic Continuing Education worker, Girl and Boy Scout Leader, and a member of BPO Does.Ada returned to the classroom in the late 1980's to complete an AA degree from Rochester Community and Technical College, and then graduated with honors from Winona State University in 1991, completing a BA in Art.As a professional artist, Ada made numerous contributions of time and energy to the local art scene. Late in the 1940's she was one of the originators of the Rochester Art Center, a member of The Artists Group that organized weeklong artist seminars with nationally recognized painters, worked enthusiastically on the elegant Beaux Arts Balls, and demonstrated painting at many of the annual Rochester Art Festivals. She won numerous awards and has paintings in permanent collections including 3M and Hamline University.In 1996, Ada was awarded a SEMA State Arts Grant for Original Works in Watercolor, which funded her for an intense year of studio work culminating in an exhibition of her work at University Center Gallery, Rochester Community & Technical College. She was a member of National Artists Equity Association, Minnesota Artists Association and American Watercolor Society. Ada is survived by two daughters, Connie Keithahn, of St. Paul and Patricia ( Hugh) Kraemer, of Zumbro Falls; one son, Rob (Liz Stein) Larson, of Vadnais Heights; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lorraine Rabe and Evlyn (Donald) Dahling, of Lake City. Ada is preceded in death by her husband Warren, in 1994; and a brother, Verle Copp in 2009. A Funeral Service will be at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. Norman Wahl officiating. Visitation will be an hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.