Dixie Leah Larson

Dixie Leah Larson, 87, passed from this life on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 on her 87^th birthday.  Dixie was the second daughter born to John and Leah Kidd August 22, 1936 in Lincoln, Idaho—a small town outside of Idaho Falls.  She was the second of six children—Noreen, Jerry, Sherrie, Rowena, and Galen.  Dixie married her sweetheart Odell (March 12, 1936 - April 14, 2009) in the Idaho Falls Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  For their honeymoon they camped at Yellowstone National Park!  Dixie and Odell were the proud parents of five children--Carrie, Vicki, Craig, Venita, and Phillip.  Had they both survived, August 12, 2023 would have been their 68th wedding anniversary. Dixie and Odell left a great and enduring legacy of faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Each of their children and spouses remain active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with strong and abiding testimonies of Jesus Christ. 

Dixie and Odell first met in the 8^th grade in Payette, Idaho.  Their first date was to Odell’s junior prom.  Dixie was selected by her classmates to represent them as princess in the Payette County Apple Blossom Festival.  She was also selected as the FFA Sweetheart for the annual Sweetheart Ball. While in high school, Dixie worked weighing milk at the Payette Creamery.  She also worked as a carhop at the local hamburger joint called the Snack Shack. Their first apartment rented for a whopping $45 a month.  Dixie put this in perspective when she wrote that their income at the time was $95 a month.  Dixie attended BYU along with Odell for one year prior to the arrival of their first daughter Carrie.  Dixie’s greatest ambition was to be a stay-at-home mother.  She was most happy caring for her family.    

After Odell’s graduation from BYU, Dixie and Odell relocated several times while accepting job opportunities through the US Dept of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.  As a result, they lived throughout the United States and in many parts of the world including Salt Lake City, UT; Phoenix, AZ; Washington, D.C.; Jeffersonville, IN; Manassas, VA; Reno, NV; Ibadan, Nigeria, West Africa; Sacramento, CA; Cheyenne, WY; Friendship, MD; Rome, Italy and Grand Junction, CO.  Following Odell’s passing, Dixie also lived in Arvada, CO; and finally, Kaysville, UT.  While living in Africa, Dixie and Odell and their children spent their summers traveling throughout Europe.  Later Dixie and Odell traveled to Israel with Odell’s work.  Dixie shared that she bravely traveled alone to Bethlehem while Odell attended meetings. While in the Middle East, they also had the opportunity to meet Yasser Arafat, the then President of the Palestinian Authority and a historical figure of the 20^th Century.  One of Dixie and Odell's many talents was ballroom dancing and Dixie continued to love to dance throughout her life even while living in assisted living.  A favorite memory of Dixie’s was dancing throughout the night with Odell to a full orchestra at the top of one of Rome’s seven hills on New Years Eve.  A beautiful and memorable way to welcome in 1993.

During the course of her life she had the opportunity to work in some very interesting positions.  She was a phone operator at JCPenny and a secretary at a local Head Start Program.  Later she worked as a Specialist for the US Air Force Office of Special Investigations.  While in Rome, she worked for the Agriculture Attache to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization.

Dixie was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Her faith in prayer never faltered.  She held many positions within the church and had an abiding testimony of Jesus Christ as the living Son of God.  She endeavored to be a devoted wife and mother.  Dixie frequently befriended total strangers, administered relief to people she encountered during her daily walk in life, and often invited co-workers and friends to attend church with her. 

In her earlier years she loved to throw a great party with fanciful food and delicious fruit punch. She kept a beautiful home that was comfortable for her family and anyone who should have the opportunity to visit.  She loved to cook and was a beautiful seamstress.  She especially loved to sew for her children. She was always ready and willing to help her children when in need.  She will be missed.

Dixie was preceded in death by her beloved husband Odell, her parents, her sister Norene Vawter, and her brother Jerry Kidd.  She is survived by her children Carrie (Gordon) Weatherbee, Vicki (Bruce) Hill, Craig (Angela) Larson, Venita (Tim) Dimmick, Phillip (Lisa) Larson, siblings Sherrie Scott, Rowena Eichler-Strain, and Galen Kidd, 25 grandchildren, and 48 (almost 49) great grandchildren. 

The family wishes to extend love and thanks to the many nurses and CNAs at Whisper Cove Assisted Living and Memory Care and at Canyon Home Care & Hospice who cared for her very kindly and compassionately up until the very end.  Dixie’s viewing will be held Saturday, August 26, 2023 from 8:30am-9:30am, followed by the funeral at 10:00am to be held in the funeral home chapel located at the Russon Brothers Farmington Mortuary at 1941 N Main St, Farmington, UT.  Dixie will be interred at 2:00 pm at the Logan, UT Cemetery, 1000 N 1200 E, Logan, UT.

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