Leta Larkin

Leta Larkin, 85, of Creston, Iowa passed away Monday, May 26, 2025 at Creston Specialty Care. A Celebration of Life Service will be 2:30 PM, Monday, June, 2, 2025 at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1 -2 PM at the funeral home. Leta will be laid to rest in the Graceland Cemetery, Creston, Iowa at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Creston Animal Rescue Effort of Creston &/or the Crest Baptist Church of Creston. Memories and condolences can be shared online at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Leta Mardale Larkin was born in Creston, Iowa on February 9, 1940, the daughter of Russell Tobert and Gladys Louise (Ray) Spainhower. Leta was raised and educated in Creston and later earned an LPN degree from Southwestern Community College. Leta was united in marriage to John Ashton Larkin in Papillion, Nebraska on January 12, 1962. John was in the military so Leta and John have lived in California, Omaha, Nebraska and also in Germany before returning to Creston. Leta and John raised 7 children and always had an open door for those in need. Leta believed no one should ever go without.

Leta worked a short time as an LPN but would retire from Gits Manufacturing. Following retirement, she worked in the cafeteria at Greater Regional Medical Center and religiously attended coffee group with her girlfriends. Leta was also a member of TOPS, the Red Hat Society and she loved getting together to play card games. Leta enjoyed sitting on her porch doing word search puzzles, listening to the radio, watching the neighbors and gossiping with her friends on the phone. She enjoyed baking banana bread & other bars for the grandkids, loved cooking Sunday dinners and traveled on several bank trips. Leta liked shopping the Clearance isles at Walmart and fussing with her cat, “Big Boy”.

Preceding Leta in death was her husband, John; 3 sons: Brett, Brady and Mark; 4 brothers: Rex, Gary, Rick, her infant brother, Kevin; and infant sister, Katherine.

Leta is survived by 4 daughters: Tina (Gary) Lybarger of Harrison, Arkansas; Tammy Henderson of Creston, Iowa; Becky Moulin of Creston, Iowa; and Lisa (Curtis) Hill of San Antonio, Texas; her 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Leta is also survived by 2 sisters: Karen Nixon of San Clemente, California and Lisa Spainhower of Creston, Iowa. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.