Corrine was born at the Union Hospital on April 16, 1951, the third of seven children born to John Elmer and Mary Virginia (Milliman) Webster. She grew up on Red Gate Farm a sensitive, cheerful and talkative child whose mother braided Corrine’s fine brown hair into pigtails and always seemed to cut her bangs too short. After elementary school in Lafayette, Corrine attended high school at District #88 in New Ulm where she was one of “The W’s”–Colleen Walters, Corrine Webster, Sandy Wieland and Trudy Wright. Following graduation with the class of 1969, Corrine enrolled at St. Barnabas School of Nursing in downtown Minneapolis graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1972. She worked as an orthopedic nurse at Metropolitan Medical Center (a merger of St. Barnabas and Swedish Hospitals) for several years. Her enthusiasm and sense of fun served her well on that job and she continued to enjoy life. One evening a patient expressed surprise that Corrine didn’t watch the popular television show “Saturday Night Live.” Corrine responded, “Listen, I AM Saturday night live. If I’m not here taking care of you, I’m out having a good time.”

Visiting Donnelly to see her friend from nursing school, Maggie Ersted, Corrine met a handsome Norwegian bachelor farmer, Elroy “Butch” Larson, who announced to Corrine on their second date, “I’m going to marry you….” He did. On November 18, 1978, Corrine and Butch were married in the Bernadotte Lutheran church and then celebrated with a wedding dance at the Gibbon Ballroom and a honeymoon in the Twin Cities.

Corrine relished the role of farm wife; her work boots and barn coat resided next to Butch’s in the entry of their white four-square farm house. She vaccinated piglets, drove farm equipment, planted a huge garden and canned fruits and vegetables. She joined the Kongsvinger Lutheran Church, learned to make lefsa and helped organize the parade for Donnelly’s annual Threshing Bee. As her three children arrived Corrine threw herself into the role of Mom. She taught Sunday School and helped with a myriad of 4-H projects many of which involved animals large and small.

An accomplished seamstress, Corrine made extra money altering clothing, outfitting bridal parties and sewing clothes for Cabbage Patch dolls. She eventually resumed her professional career taking a position as the school nurse for the University of Minnesota Morris. During annual freshmen orientations, Corrine would meet with parents of each student who had medical needs telling those parents, “Don’t worry about your child here at the University. I am the nurse but I am also a MOM.”

Butch died suddenly in April 2002. Widowed at the age of 51, Corrine was left to soldier on without Butch at her side. She rented the farm land to some neighbors until her son, David, graduated college and returned home to farm that land. Corrine moved to Donnelly when David returned to the farm.

The years passed and then a co-worker at the University asked Corrine if she could introduce Corrine to her cousin, Larry Tufton, a farmer from Kragnes just north of Moorhead. Corrine agreed to meet Larry for coffee (even though Corrine never drank coffee). After several hours at the coffee shop, Corrine told Larry she had to get back home to bake cookies for church the next day. Larry asked if he could come along to help and Corrine agreed. Corrine and Larry were married on June 8, 2008 at North Buffalo Lutheran Church in Kragnes. Corrine was thrilled to be back on a farm, driving a grain truck or waiting for men to come in from the field. Corrine and Larry built a life (and a new house) together with each enjoying the other’s extended family.

Corrine’s natural enthusiasm for life and love expanded with the birth of each grandchild. She was always up for any task: changing diapers, sewing pajamas, singing silly songs, playing games, walking at a child’s pace, checking out the animals, riding the four-wheeler, explaining any subject, teaching any skill, flying to Texas. Corrine was always there and always “all in” until just recently. Corrine fell gravely ill on Christmas Day. At the hospital in Fargo her family learned Corrine had a brain tumor and there appeared to be bleeding. Corrine entered hospice care at Courage Cottage in Morris on December 30, 2024 and died January 4, 2025, leaving behind a large loving family and a multitude of friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday January 17, 2025 at Kongsvinger Lutheran Church Donnelly; visitation will be Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and will continue at church on Friday one hour prior to the service. A second Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at North Buffalo Lutheran Church in rural Moorhead beginning at 9:30 a.m. with a brief church service and transitioning into Corrine’s second Memorial Service.

Memorials are preferred to Kongsvinger Lutheran Cemetery, Donnelly, Minnesota; North Buffalo Lutheran Cemetery, Moorhead, Minnesota; or, Courage Cottage, Morris, Minnesota.

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