Michael Dean Haroldsen

Michael Dean Haroldsen,16, passed away in his sleep on Friday, January 17, 2020. He was born January 19, 2003 in Inglewood, California, to Latoya Howard whose love for him saved him from the abortion her family wanted her to have and delivered him into the arms of his adoptive parents, April and Warren Haroldsen. He lived his life with the enthusiasm of someone who seemed to sense from his earliest moments just what a precious gift life is. He never let his various medical issues detract him from living life to the fullest. Michael attended Head Start in West Bountiful and grade school at Woods Cross Elementary and Legacy Preparatory Academy. He attended Millcreek Junior High school and Woods Cross High school and Bountiful High school. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. He loved to write songs and to sing and dance. He also loved cats, drawing, creating costumes, superheroes, super villains, food, video games, movies with Grandma, movies with parents, movies with sisters, movies with friends, and occasionally, movies alone. Most of all, Michael loved people! Never bashful, he specialized in turning bullies into friends and cheering up those who are sad. He would often talk about his new friends of the day, although he usually wasn’t concerned about remembering their names. When he would tell his father about a new friend, and father asked, “what’s their name?” Michael would patiently admonish “that’s not really important, Dad.” He was especially close to his mother and would often hang out with her on sleepless nights where they would eat popcorn and talk and review his art and just enjoy each other’s company. He was known by various nicknames including Mike, Lil Mike, Mikel, Ghost Rider, but he was most widely known as Black Magic, a name he relished. Everybody Michael met was a friend, and he was particularly drawn to those who may have been unnoticed by the majority. Michael is survived by his parents and his sister Courtney (and fiancé Deon Davis) of Layton Utah, sister Shaylee, Grammy Judy Proctor, grandmother Betty Peck, all of Woods Cross Utah, grandparents Carol & Jerry Proctor of Ogden Utah, more uncles and aunts than he could keep track of, and too many cousins for his parents to count, as well as one biological sister who he never got to meet: Christina Howard of South Central Los Angeles, California. He was preceded in death by Grandparents, Ray Peck, Norman & Fay Haroldsen, and Donald G Raines, Senior. Services will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 11:00 am at the Woods Cross North Stake Center 1509 West 1500 South Woods Cross Utah. There will be a viewing Friday evening at Russon Funeral Home 295 N Main Street, Bountiful, from 6 PM to 8 PM and at the Stake Center prior to services. We invite you to bring a magnet that reminds you of Michael to decorate his casket. (Check out his Facebook page for more information.) In lieu of flowers, please take a look around yourself—in your classroom, office, church, or neighborhood—and reach out to someone who you may not have noticed, and invite them into your life. If you are in a position to donate to a worthy cause in Michael’s name, please consider supporting the family of his Aunt Earlene, who learned on the day of Michael’s death that she has stage 4 liver cancer with an estimated 1-3 months to live: https://www.facebook.com/donate/3167494086597233/?fundraiser_source=external_url Internment at Bountiful City Cemetery