( CNN ) -- A seminary student who was in Haiti along with his wife and cousin is believed to have been killed in the magnitude-7.0 earthquake that struck the island nation , his family and seminary said Thursday . Benjamin Larson , 25 , from LaCrosse , Wisconsin , the son of two Lutheran ministers , was in his fourth year as a master 's of divinity student at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque , Iowa . He was in Haiti , along with his wife , Renee , and his cousin Jonathan Larson , both of whom also are fourth-year seminary students , to help with the new Haiti Lutheran Church , said a statement on the Web site of the First Lutheran Church in Duluth , where Benjamin Larson 's mother , the Rev . April Larson , is pastor . His father , the Rev . Judd Larson , is interim pastor at Our Savior 's Lutheran Church in Duluth . `` Pastors April and Judd Larson wish to share with you ... the profound sorrow with which they are living , and to ask for your prayers , '' the statement said . The Larsons received a message early Thursday that their son had been killed , according to the statement . Benjamin Larson was teaching at the Pastors and Lay Leaders Theological Conference in Haiti , the statement said . At the time of the quake , the three relatives were staying at St. Joseph 's Home for Boys on a mountain in Port-au-Prince , First Lutheran Church said . `` During the earthquake , the building collapsed on all three . '' Renee and Jonathan Larson were able to escape , but could not find Benjamin Larson , the statement said . They had to flee down the mountain immediately . Wednesday morning , Renee Larson and others returned to try to find Ben , to no avail , according to the First Lutheran statement and a statement from seminary President Duane Larson . ( He is not closely related to the students ) . Renee and Jonathan Larson were at the U.S. Embassy in Haiti , and were to be evacuated to the Dominican Republic on Thursday , Duane Larson said . They are expected to be returned to the United States this week , he said . Jonathan Larson , of Red Wing , Minnesota , and his cousin were serving as teachers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Haiti for a January term project , Duane Larson said . Renee Larson , originally of Garrison , North Dakota , was doing interviews and research for her thesis on the beginnings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Haiti . `` Ben was so excited to become a pastor , '' April Larson said in the First Lutheran statement . `` Ben loved Christ and he loved people . '' In an interview with the ECLA news service , cited by the seminary in a written statement , April Larson described her son as `` gentle , in love with Christ , in love with people , in love with life . He 's been hearing God 's call . His life belonged to God . If you want to know Ben , listen to his music . '' Benjamin Larson was the youngest of the couple 's four children , the seminary said . His name was the first released of an American victim in the Haiti quake . State Department officials said a U.S. Embassy employee also was among the dead , but did not identify the victim , saying relatives were being notified . A seminary classmate , Corrine Denis , cried as she spoke about Benjamin Larson , who she had known since their pre-seminary college days at Luther College in Decorah , Iowa . `` A lot of people say , 'He would give you the shirt off his back , ' but Ben really would , '' Denis said . `` He 'd give you his hat and his socks and whatever you needed . '' She said Larson led the music team at the college 's student-led worship service . `` Ben was compassionate to the nth degree , '' she said . When he was headed to their floor on campus , she said , `` You could hear him singing in the stairwell before he got there . '' He was `` full of light , and truly Christ 's love emanated from him , '' Denis said . `` He was one of a kind , and we will miss him so deeply . '' Duane Larson said , `` We so grieve with his parents , April and Judd ; for Renee 's loss of her husband ; Jonathan 's loss of a dear cousin , for our loss of a beautiful friend . Ben 's baptismal light burned so brightly in our community and for all who came to know him . We grieve the loss of so clear a proclamation , with eyes twinkling , of Christ 's love , compassion and humor . '' He told reporters he had known Benjamin Larson for a couple of years before he began studying at Wartburg , and is a close friend with his family . `` It 's a very personal loss . '' He said the seminary student had a commitment to spreading God 's word in a `` healing , musical and compassionate and easygoing way . '' He said he believed the Larsons had left for Haiti on January 4 . Benjamin Larson was a key member of the seminary 's basketball team and played racquetball , he said . A family spokesman did not immediately return a call seeking comment from CNN Thursday . `` He loved God , '' April Larson told the Duluth News Tribune newspaper Thursday . `` He loved the church . He loved people . He was just one of those people that built love and community wherever he was . `` He was somebody who loved life , loved living ... a person filled up with joy . He was just a ton of fun . '' In 2008 , Benjamin Larson served as an intern at Our Savior 's Lutheran Church in Lincoln , Nebraska . Pastor Lowell Hennigs did not want to comment to CNN Thursday , saying he had not spoken with Larson 's parents . In a church newsletter from 2008 , however , Hennigs wrote that both Benjamin and Renee Larson were `` delightful , outgoing and extremely talented young folks '' and musicians . Benjamin Larson composed music and liturgy and played a wide variety of instruments , he said . Rafael Malpica Padilla , executive director of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America 's Global Mission Unit , told the Larsons , `` We will do everything [ we ] can to help find Ben and bring him home , '' the First Lutheran statement said . A fourth Wartburg student , Sarah Thomson , is safe in Jacmel , Haiti , the seminary said . CNN 's Ashley Hayes contributed to this report .
Benjamin Larson of LaCrosse , Wisconsin , died in the Haiti quake , his family said Thursday . Larson , his wife and cousin , all seminary students , were in Haiti helping with a church school . The building in which they were staying collapsed , and Benjamin Larson did not escape . `` He ... built love and community wherever he was , '' his mother says in a statement .