The October Lunchbox Lecture will be held Thursday October 14 at noon in the 4-H building on the Murray County Fairgrounds in Slayton. This month’s topic will be presented by Minnesota Author, Patricia Lubeck. She will speak on her newest book, “Victims of Foul Play: A True Story of One Man’s Dark Secrets.”
This is a true story about Clarence Larson and the two women he married. His first wife, Martha, died in a suspicious farm accident. She was found wrapped up on the power-take-off mechanism on December 19, 1961. Neighbors felt the scene appeared suspicious and may have been staged. Poor Martha was dead with a large, bloody gash in the back of her head. Less than two weeks before her suspicious death, her husband took out a 31-day accident policy on Martha for $10,000, naming him as the beneficiary - the perfect motive for murder.
Next, Clarence married his second wife, Jean Sande in 1964. In early October 1980, she disappeared without a trace. Neighbors were suspicious and asked Clarence what happened to his wife. He told conflicting stories of her whereabouts. Clarence finally reported her missing three weeks later but didn’t seem concerned that she was gone. He told the sheriff, “Jean will surface again someday.”
Patricia Lubeck grew up in the small town of Echo, Yellow Medicine County Minnesota. She graduated from Echo High School, then moved to California where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California. Years later, she returned to Minnesota where she became the director of the Yellow Medicine County and Redwood County Museums. This is her fifth book; she spends her time researching and writing true crime stories from Minnesota’s early history.
This program is sponsored by the Murray County Historical Society. The cost of the talk is $3.00 and Historical Society members get in free. Bring your lunch. Beverages are provided. For more information about this and other history programming call 507-836-6533 or email museum@co.murray.mn.us.
