Age, Wife, Kids, Family, Net Worth, Biography, Death, Plane Crash & More

Posted by Tamela Phillippe on Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Doug Larsen was a Republican state senator from North Dakota who represented the 34th district, which includes the city of Mandan. He was also a lieutenant colonel in the North Dakota Army National Guard, a businessman, and a commercial pilot. He died in a plane crash along with his wife and two children on October 1, 2023, near Moab, Utah.

Early Life and Education

Doug Larsen was born around 1976 in Mandan, North Dakota. He graduated from Minot State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in communication arts and political science. He joined the North Dakota Army National Guard in 1994 and served for 29 years.

Military Career

Larsen was an aviation officer who flew Black Hawk helicopters as part of his military service. He was mobilized twice, to Iraq from 2009 to 2010 and to Washington, D.C. from 2013 to 2014. He was the commander of the 112th Aviation Battalion when he was a major. He reached the rank of lieutenant colonel at the time of his death. He received several awards and honors, including a Meritorious Service Medal, a Bronze Service Star, and an Army Aviator Badge.

Business and Political Career

Larsen owned Apex Builders, a home building and development company, and a Wingate by Wyndham hotel franchise in Bismarck, North Dakota. He was also a licensed real estate agent. His wife, Amy Larsen, was a board member of the local home builders’ association and was part of the Bismarck-Mandan Professional Women in Building Council.

Doug Larsen was elected to the North Dakota Senate in November 2020 and assumed office on December 1, 2020. He chaired a Senate panel that handled industry and business legislation. He was a tenacious advocate for individual rights and the freedoms he defended through his military service.

Aviation Passion and Commercial Pilot License

Larsen had a passion for flying since he was young. He had recently earned his commercial pilot license with hopes of one day working for a major airline, according to his Senate colleague Jim Roers, who was also a longtime licensed pilot. Larsen had received at least one job offer from commuter airlines and had completed several steps toward the license. An FAA record shows that Larsen obtained a commercial pilot certificate on September 15, 2023.

Family and Personal Life

Doug Larsen was married to Amy Larsen, who was his high school sweetheart. They had three children: Christian, Everett, and Olivia. Christian and Everett were 11 and 8 years old respectively at the time of their death. Olivia is their eldest daughter who survived the crash.

Larsen lived in Mandan, North Dakota, with his family. He was active on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, where he shared photos and videos of his family, friends, hobbies, and travels. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing, golfing, and flying.

Larsen was born in Mandan, North Dakota, in 1976. This suggests that his parents were also residents of Mandan or nearby areas at that time. Mandan is a city in Morton County, North Dakota, with a population of about 22,000 people as of 2020. It is located across the Missouri River from the state capital of Bismarck and is part of the Bismarck-Mandan metropolitan area.

Plane Crash and Death

Larsen died on October 1, 2023, in a plane crash en route between family in Scottsdale, Arizona, and home in North Dakota. He was piloting a single-engine Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee that he owned. The plane crashed shortly after taking off from Canyonlands Regional Airport near Moab, Utah, where the aircraft had stopped to refuel. The cause of the crash is unknown and under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

A tragic accident claimed the lives of a North Dakota state senator, his wife, and their two young children on Sunday evening, when their small plane crashed shortly after taking off from a regional airport near Moab, Utah.

The senator, Doug Larsen, a Republican who represented District 34 in Mandan, was piloting the single-engine Piper PA-23 when it went down in a remote area bordering the Canyonlands Regional Airport, according to the Grand County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said that Larsen, his wife Amy, and their two sons, ages 8 and 10, did not survive the crash. They were the only occupants of the plane.

Larsen, 42, was a businessman and a lieutenant colonel in the North Dakota National Guard. He was first elected to the state senate in 2020 and chaired a committee that handled industry and business legislation.

He was described by his colleagues and friends as a devoted family man, a passionate advocate for his constituents, and a patriotic citizen who served his country with honor.

The Crash

The crash occurred around 8:20 p.m. local time on Sunday, as Larsen and his family were returning home from a visit to relatives in Scottsdale, Arizona. They had stopped to refuel in Moab, a popular tourist destination known for its scenic red rock formations and national parks.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is investigating the accident, the plane crashed shortly after taking off from the airport. The cause of the crash is still unknown, but witnesses reported hearing a loud noise and seeing flames before the plane hit the ground.

The sheriff’s office said that emergency responders found the plane in flames and that there were no signs of life. The fire was extinguished and the bodies were recovered.

The NTSB said that it would examine the wreckage, review the maintenance records of the plane, request air traffic communications, radar data, and weather reports, and interview any witnesses. The agency said it would issue a preliminary report within two weeks and a final report within a year to 18 months.

The Reactions

The news of the crash shocked and saddened many people in North Dakota and beyond, who expressed their condolences and tributes to Larsen and his family.

Gov. Doug Burgum called the loss “heartbreaking” and said he was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy.

“Sen. Larsen was a father, husband, coach, entrepreneur, businessman, state senator and lieutenant colonel in the North Dakota National Guard who committed himself fully to each of those roles with an unwavering sense of honor and duty,” Burgum said in a statement. “As a legislator, he was a tenacious advocate for individual rights and the freedoms he defended through his military service.”

The Legacy

Larsen leaves behind a legacy of leadership, service, and dedication to his state and country. He was born and raised in Mandan, where he graduated from high school in 1999. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Dakota in 2003 and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Mary in 2007.

He joined the North Dakota National Guard in 2001 and served in various positions, including as a helicopter pilot, a company commander, and a battalion operations officer. Doug Larsen deployed to Iraq in 2009 and 2010 and to Kosovo in 2016 and 2017. He received several awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Medal.

He was also a successful entrepreneur and businessman, who founded and ran several companies, including Larsen Enterprises, a real estate development and management firm, and Larsen Aviation, an aircraft sales and leasing company.

He entered politics in 2020 when he ran for the state senate seat vacated by Dwight Cook, who retired after 26 years. He won the election with 67% of the vote, defeating his Democratic opponent by more than 4,000 votes.

He quickly became a prominent voice in the Senate, where he advocated for conservative policies on issues such as taxes, regulations, energy, education, and health care. He also supported veterans’ causes and rural development.

He was re-elected in 2022 with 69% of the vote, increasing his margin of victory to more than 5,000 votes. He was expected to run for a third term in 2024.

Tributes and Condolences

The news of Larsen’s death shocked and saddened many people who knew him or worked with him. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum called it a “heartbreaking loss” and praised Larsen’s “unwavering sense of honor and duty”. He ordered flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset on October 8 in honor of Larsen and his family.

The North Dakota Senate leadership issued a joint statement expressing their grief and condolences to Larsen’s family. They described him as “a dedicated public servant who brought energy, enthusiasm, and expertise to every issue he tackled”. They also said that he “was well-liked by his colleagues on both sides of the aisle” and that “his absence will be deeply felt”.

The North Dakota Association of Builders also released a statement mourning the loss of Larsen and his wife, who were both members of the association. They said that they “will be greatly missed” and that they “made a positive impact on the building industry and the communities they served”.

Larsen’s friends, relatives, and supporters also shared their memories and condolences on social media platforms. They remembered him as a loving husband, father, friend, leader, and patriot. They also expressed their prayers and support for his surviving daughter Olivia.

Wiki/BIO

NameDoug Larsen
Date of Birthc. 1976
Date of DeathOctober 1, 2023
Age46-47
Place of BirthMandan, North Dakota
Place of DeathGrand County, Utah
Cause of DeathPlane crash
OccupationState senator, lieutenant colonel, businessman, pilot
Political PartyRepublican
EducationMinot State University (BS)
SpouseAmy Larsen (d. 2023)
ChildrenChristian Larsen (d. 2023)
Everett Larsen (d. 2023)
Olivia Larsen
Instagramdouglarsen
Facebookdoug.larsen.526
Homepagenewsunzip.com

Facts About Doug Larsen

  • He was a member of the North Dakota Army National Guard for 29 years and served in Iraq and Washington, D.C.
  • Larsen owned a home building and development company and a hotel franchise in Bismarck, North Dakota.
  • Doug was elected to the North Dakota Senate in 2020 and represented the 34th district, which includes Mandan.
  • He had recently earned his commercial pilot license and had aspirations to work for a major airline.
  • Doug died in a plane crash along with his wife and two children on October 1, 2023, near Moab, Utah.
  • Doug Larsen was praised by his colleagues, friends, and family as a dedicated public servant, a passionate pilot, and a loving husband and father.

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