Larry Aasen, 99, Died; US Army Veteran, RTM Member, Author

Larry Aasen died on Sunday, January 2, at Norwalk Hospital. He was 99 years old.

The cause of death was complications of COVID-19.

Since 1963, Larry and his wife, Martha, had lived in Westport, CT.  They married in 1954. Martha died on October 23, 2020. She was 90.

Aasen was born in a log house on a farm near Gardner, ND, on December 5, 1922, during a heavy snowstorm. There was no electricity, running water, or central heating. His grandparents were immigrants from Norway.

He graduated from Hillsboro (ND) High School in 1941. He attended North Dakota State University from 1941 to 1943, then entered the U.S. Army 

Aasen rose to sergeant in the 13th Airborne Division. After training in North Carolina, he was sent to France during World War II. His job was cryptographer, encoding and decoding secret messages. His division had 20-person gliders. Their mission was to drop behind enemy lines and destroy anything of value.

After his discharge, in 1946, Aasen received a journalism degree from the University of North Dakota in 1947. He then earned a Master’s Degree in Public Relations at Boston University in 1949.

Aasen moved to New York where he began his career as a journalist for McGraw-Hill trade publications. He spent 14 years with New York Life Insurance, rising to vice president of public relations, then 20 years with the Better Vision Institute on campaigns urging Americans to get their eyes checked.

He was active in Westport’s civic life. He served 17 years on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM). His other volunteer activities include the Democratic Town Committee, Y’s Men, and the Rotary Club. He was an active member of the Saugatuck Congregational Church. In 2018, he served as Grand Marshal of the town’s Memorial Day parade

He wrote four books about his beloved North Dakota. His output includes “North Dakota 100 Years Ago,” “Images of North Dakota” and “North Dakota Postcards 1900-1930.” His latest book — “North Dakotans Never Give Up” — was written when he was 97 years old. 

Larry is survived by his children, David and Susan, and his son-in-law, David Rutkin. Other survivors include extended family members in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Because of the pandemic, there will be no funeral at this time. A memorial service will be held in the spring. His family requests that no flowers or gifts be sent to the Aasen residence. Instead, memorial gifts may be sent to Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880.