{{Short description|American politician (1976–2023)}} {{Distinguish|text=the Wisconsin columnist, Doug Larson}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Doug Larsen | image = Official portrait of Captain Douglas Larsen, 112th Aviation Battalion.jpg | caption = Larsen in 2008 | state_senate = North Dakota | district = 34th | term_start = December 1, 2020 | term_end = October 1, 2023 | predecessor = Dwight Cook | successor = Justin Gerhardt | education = Minot State University (BS) | party = Republican | unit = {{tree list}} * North Dakota Army National Guard ** 112th Aviation Regiment{{tree list/end}} | branch = {{tree list}} * United States Army ** Army National Guard{{tree list/end}} | service_years = 1994–2023 | rank = Lieutenant colonel | battles = Iraq War | birth_name = Douglas Allen Larsen | birth_date = {{birth date|1976|3|8}} | birth_place = Minot, North Dakota, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2023|10|1|1976|3|8}} | death_place = Grand County, Utah, U.S. | spouse = {{marriage|Amy Haugan|March 17, 2003}} | children = 2 | awards = | mawards = {{ubl|Service star (bronze)|Meritorious Service Medal|Army Aviator Badge}} }}
'''Douglas Allen Larsen''' (March 8, 1976 – October 1, 2023) was an American politician and businessman who served as a member of the North Dakota Senate, representing the 34th district from 2020 until his death in 2023.
== Education == Born in Minot on March 8, 1976,<ref>{{cite web|title=Douglas Larsen|url=https://www.eastgatefuneral.com/obituaries/the-larsen-family|publisher=Eastgate & Parkway Funeral & Cremation Services|access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref> Larsen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communication arts and political science from Minot State University.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Doug Larsen|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Doug_Larsen|access-date=2021-07-22|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dura |first1=Jack |title=Mandan-area candidate plans GOP primary run for North Dakota Senate seat |url=https://bismarcktribune.com/news/election/mandan-area-candidate-plans-gop-primary-run-for-north-dakota-senate-seat/article_fa44e726-53c0-5590-8a36-7163311d6fc7.html |access-date=2 October 2023 |work=The Bismarck Tribune |date=9 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
== Career == Larsen served in the North Dakota Army National Guard for 29 years.<ref name=DuraGruver>Jack Dura & Mead Gruver, [https://apnews.com/article/utah-plane-crash-moab-killed-a7064a4f3a883be6f920fb647d10c6ca North Dakota state senator, his wife and 2 kids killed in Utah plane crash], Associated Press (October 2, 2023).</ref> He mobilized twice, to Iraq (2009–10) and later to Washington, D.C. (2013–14).<ref name=DuraGruver/> When at the rank of major, he was the commander of the 112th Aviation Battalion.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Salling|first=John|title=Change of command for North Dakota National Guard air battalion in Bismarck|url=https://www.kfyrtv.com/content/news/Change-of-command-for-North-Dakota-National-Guard-air-battalion-in-Bismarck-405796245.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-22|website=kfyrtv.com|date=10 December 2016 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211141954/http://www.kfyrtv.com/content/news/Change-of-command-for-North-Dakota-National-Guard-air-battalion-in-Bismarck-405796245.html |archive-date=2016-12-11 }}</ref> He was a lieutenant colonel at the time of his death.<ref name=DuraGruver/>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Doug Larsen {{!}} North Dakota Legislative Branch|url=https://www.legis.nd.gov/biography/doug-larsen|access-date=2021-07-22|website=www.legis.nd.gov}}</ref>
==Career in politics== Larsen was elected to the North Dakota Senate in November 2020 and assumed office on December 1, 2020.<ref name=Benth>{{Cite web|last=Benth|first=Morgan|title=Doug Larsen reflects on his District 34 primary win|url=https://www.kfyrtv.com/content/news/Doug-Larsen-reflects-on-his-District-34-primary-win-571167051.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-22|website=kfyrtv.com|date=10 June 2020 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715120856/https://www.kfyrtv.com/content/news/Doug-Larsen-reflects-on-his-District-34-primary-win-571167051.html |archive-date=2020-07-15 }}</ref>
Larsen was elected from District 34,<ref name=Benth/> which comprises Mandan.<ref name=DuraGruver/>
== Death == Doug Larsen died on October 1, 2023, in a plane crash en route between family in Scottsdale, Arizona, and his home in North Dakota, shortly after taking off from a stop for fuel at Canyonlands Regional Airport in Grand County, Utah, near Moab. He was 47, and died along with his wife and both his children.<ref>{{cite web|title=Plane crash in Utah with ND ties|url=https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/10/02/plane-crash-utah-with-nd-ties/|date=October 2, 2023|publisher=KFYR TV|access-date=October 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>[https://apnews.com/article/utah-plane-crash-moab-killed-a7064a4f3a883be6f920fb647d10c6ca North Dakota state senator, his wife and 2 kids die in Utah plane crash, Senate leadership says]</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Megan |last=Nielsen|title=North Dakota state senator, his wife and 2 kids killed in Utah plane crash |url=https://www.deseret.com/utah/2023/10/2/23900257/north-dakota-senator-doug-larsen-plane-crash-family-utah |work=Deseret News |date=2 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
== References == <references />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Larsen, Doug}} Category:1976 births Category:2023 deaths Category:United States Army officers Category:Minot State University alumni Category:Republican Party North Dakota state senators Category:21st-century members of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly Category:United States Army personnel of the Iraq War Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2023 Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States Category:Accidental deaths in Utah
{{NorthDakota-politician-stub}}