Darrell Fred (Dick) Larson

Darrell Fred (Dick) Larson, a very good man, passed away on August 26, 2023, surrounded by family. Darrell is survived by his beautiful and caring wife, Judith Fehlberg Larson, his children, Leslie Phillips, David Larson, Keith Larson, Doug Larson, and Lorie Gordon, and his 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. 

Darrell was born in 1935 to Charles Walton Larson and Florence Zesiger Larson. They made their first home in Centerville, Utah. Charles passed away when Darrell was just a baby, leaving Florence to raise her two sons, Howard and Darrell. The boys were a handful, and work was scarce during WWII. Florence cut hair to buy food and welcomed help from her loving family. Florence’s parents, Fred and Kate Zesiger—whose farm was the present site of Tolman Elementary and Zesiger Park—and several Zesiger uncles all helped raise Darrell and his brother. Darrell was taught to work hard, play ball, and laugh a lot.  

Darrell’s mom later married Lloyd Bishop and relocated the boys to Kaysville, Utah. Darrell gained an instant brother, Lloyd Kay, and, a few years later, a new younger brother, Rob Bishop. Darrell graduated from Davis High School, served 2 years in the Army (mostly playing ball and dancing in the officers' club), and then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the British Isles. He shipped himself home with a vintage VW Bug and finished a degree in business at the University of Utah. 

Darrell danced the night away one evening with Judy at the Terrace Ballroom, and he knew right away he was smitten. They married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 18, 1962, and they settled in Bountiful, Utah to raise their five kids. Through the years, the family has loved spending time with each other and friends playing sports, skiing, boating, and taking annual trips to Lake Powell. With plenty of luck and a little divine intervention, Darrell and Judy always managed to bring home the same number of kids they left with.  

Darrell spent the first 20 years of his career with IBM selling typewriters. Nobody sold typewriters better than Darrell. Rather than mess with the new “computer fad,” Darrell left IBM and he and Judy opened an insurance agency in Bountiful, Larson Insurance Services, where they worked for the next 20 years. Despite being president of the local chamber of commerce, Darrell never had a great business model—often “forgiving” client premiums, taking over car payments, and caring for every widow in town. But it was never about selling typewriters or insurance; Darrell’s business was about his ministry. Darrell finally agreed to retire so he and Judy could serve missions—one to Nairobi, Kenya and another to Rochester, New York.  

To know Darrell was to love him, because he loved you. His eye twinkle and wry grin let you know you were in on the joke. He loved a good Jazz game or baseball game, shoulder rubs, a suspenseful Grisham novel or spy film, a George Shearing LP, high school reunions, and a Seigfreid's bratwurst and hot potato salad. You could find him monthly serving food at St. Vincent’s soup kitchen and weekly serving in the Bountiful Temple. He loved to listen to his kids argue over politics and make fun of them for taking themselves too seriously. Darrell was a great coach, counselor, teacher, husband, father, and friend. His was a life well lived. 

Can’t wait to see you again pops! 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 2^nd, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., at the Centerville Stake Center (950 North Main St., Centerville). 

Viewings will be held Friday evening, September 1^st, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, (295 North Main St., Bountiful) and Saturday morning prior to the service at the stake center from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. 

Interment will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery. 

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.

Examination of Darrell’s papers, yielded a number of receipts for his favorite charities, so in lieu of flowers, he’d love it if you’d choose to donate instead to any of the following: 

Primary Children’s Hospital 

Smile Train 

Doctors Without Borders 

American Red Cross 

American Cancer Society 

Mercy Ships 

Bountiful Food Pantry 

Salvation Army 

PBS, Utah 

Save the Children 

Sandy Hook Promise