Longtime Minn. farmer dies of exposure, brother hospitalized

Larson brothers
A file photo of the Larson brothers at the Oklee home, taken in 2008. Carl Larson, 95, (left) is hospitalized in serious condition with hypothermia after searching outside for his brother William, 98, who had wandered away from their home. William Larson later died.
MPR Photo/Dan Gunderson

A 95-year-old man from northwestern Minnesota is hospitalized after he went out looking for his older brother who had wandered off. His brother, who as 98, died of exposure.

Carl Larson of rural Oklee is in serious condition in a Thief River Falls hospital after suffering hypothermia from looking for his brother William.

William Larson was found unresponsive in a field by a pair of hunters early Wednesday morning. The hunters called the Red Lake County sheriff's office. William later died.

Sheriff Mitch Bernstein says neither of the brothers were dressed for the weather, as temperatures dipped into the mid-40s.

It appears one brother went southeast across a field from their home and the other went straight east.

The Larson brothers lived their entire lives on the farm which was homesteaded by their father, John Larson, in 1896. They never married.

In a 2008 interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Carl Larson said he and his brother had no plans to leave the farm, and they certainly didn't want to move to town.

"We feel the town is the poorest place you can be in. That's about the same as these nursing homes. If you live in town you just sit and look out the window," said Carl. "But here we can go out and do something you know."

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Information from: KFGO-AM, http://www.kfgo.com/