David Edward Larsen

David Edward Larsen was born on June 19, 1945, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Edward Harold and Deane Judd Larsen. He was the first of two children. He passed away on September 7, 2024, in Bountiful, Utah.  

He married Adele Stratford Hyde on September 18, 1976, in the Washington, D.C. Temple. 

David graduated from Granite High School in 1963 and from the University of Utah in 1969 with a degree in Psychology.  

While attending school, he was employed at the Newspaper Agency delivering papers to newspaper carriers. He told many hair-raising stories about his experiences driving around Bountiful in the middle of the night in those awful newspaper trucks and often pointed out paper drops to his family years later. One truck he was driving caught fire as he was going along the road and caused a lot of excitement as he stopped and tried to remove the papers before they burned.  

David joined the Utah Air National Guard in August 1966, instead of waiting to be drafted, so he could select which branch of the service to join. He retired from the UANG in June 2001, having served 35 years, 10 months, and 15 days. His career was with the Utah Air National Guard in the Finance Office and as a Services Support Specialist. He had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Iceland, and England with Guard members. 

After he retired from the UANG, he drove a bus for several years transporting patients for Senior Renewal in Bountiful. Almost every day, there was another bus story. He later worked at Ace Hardware, which was the job he enjoyed most of all. He enjoyed helping customers find what they needed, mixing paint, cutting keys, and figuring out how to put something together to fix a problem for them. 

He enjoyed fishing and camping (in younger years), especially at Butterfly Lake, working on cars (also in his younger years), building, traveling, driving up to Maddox with Adele for lunch, taking naps, and being with his family, especially his grandchildren. Annual trips to Yellowstone as a family were a favorite vacation. The whole family enjoyed road trips while the children were growing up. Great times! 

After David retired, he enjoyed many trips with Adele. Together, they visited every one of the 50 U.S. states at least once, and many states multiple times. They made many great memories, and some people they met became lifelong friends.  

As a child, David helped his father install the hardwood floor in their new home. He helped build a 4-plex as a young man working with his father and his Uncle Glenn. After he was married, he built the garage for their home on Wilson Road. He and his daughter, Cynthia, finished the basement in that home. He looked forward to the annual car shows and attended them with his son, Shane. General Priesthood meeting with Shane was also a tradition. His grandchildren continuously brought great joy to his life.  

David was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the time of his death, he was a high priest in the Orchard 10th Ward. He served in a variety of Church callings—Sunday School presidency member, Junior Sunday School teacher, Young Men’s secretary, ward clerk, member of the Scout committee, counselor in the high priest group leadership, home teacher, and ministering brother.  

He is survived by his wife and two children, Cynthia (Michael) Thompson and Shane (Mindi) Larsen, as well as 12 grandchildren, his sister, Janice (Kent) Roner, 38 nieces and nephews and their children, and many cousins. Preceded in death by both parents. 

Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 11 a.m. in the North Salt Lake Utah Parkway Stake Center, 55 East 350 North, North Salt Lake, Utah. There will be a viewing prior to the funeral from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. There will also be a viewing at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main Street Bountiful, Utah, on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. Burial will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery. 

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live 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.