Widow: Dubuque seminarian killed in quake died singing

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) - The widow of a seminarian whose parents are pastors in Duluth says he "spent his last breath singing" as he died in the rubble of the Haitian earthquake.

Renee Larson was in Port-au-Prince with husband, Ben Larson, and his cousin, Jonathan Larson, when the quake struck.

She told the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America news service Monday the two floors above them collapsed. Renee and Jonathan escaped onto the roof, but Ben couldn't. She says they called to him and heard him reply, but his singing stopped after the words "God's peace to us we pray."

Ben Larson is son of the Rev. April Ulring Larson, former bishop of the La Crosse Area Synod, and the Rev. Judd Larson of Duluth. Ben, his wife and cousin were students at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.

He also went to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, which plans a memorial service Friday.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

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More from Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:

Renee said she heard Ben's voice.  He was singing, not unusual for Ben who loved music. "I told him I loved him, and that Jon and I were okay, and to keep singing," Renee said. But the singing stopped after he sang the words "God's peace to us we pray," she said. ...

Listen to Ben's music at First Lutheran Church of Duluth, Minnesota

From The Life of Ben Larson

Ben was born February 27, 1984 in Storm Lake, Iowa. His early years were near Waterville, IA, Rochester, MN and then La Crosse, WI. He is a graduate of Central High School, La Crosse, WI, and of  Luther College, Decorah, IA. Ben was to graduate this May from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA. Ben married Renee Splichal on December 29, 2007 in Garrison, ND. ...

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;I will praise my God while I have my being.Psalm 104:33

I will praise my God while I have my being.

Psalm 104:33