Dr. C. Stanley Larson, 86, of Chicago, a radiologist who mentored other doctors in rural South Dakota, died of a brain tumor Sunday, May 19, in Wagner Health Care Center in Evanston. Dr. Larson received a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., and received his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School in 1941. His residency at the Lahey Clinic in Boston was interrupted by two years spent in the Navy during World War II. After finishing his residency, he and his wife, Edyth, moved to Sioux Falls, S.D., where Dr. Larson established a radiology practice. The couple were active in cultural events there, volunteering for the symphony and helping establish an arts center. Dr. Larson reached out to doctors in small towns to teach them about the latest technology and trends, relatives said. In 1966, doctors discovered that Dr. Larson had a benign brain tumor. About every eight years, Dr. Larson had surgery to reduce the size of the tumor. Each time, he would have to relearn certain things afterward, such as speech and motor skills, said his daughter Gayle Anderson. “He had a tremendous amount of determination and optimism,” she said. In 1972, Dr. Larson and his wife moved to Chicago, where he was a consultant to the American College of Surgeons, traveling around the country to accredit cancer-treatment programs. He then worked as a consultant for the federal government until the late 1980s, when he retired. Dr. Larson also was a flutist, carpenter and gardener. Besides his daughter and wife, survivors include two other daughters, Camille Peterson and Mary Kay McGarvey; a sister, Lavinia Peters; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. A private service is being planned.
