Donald Larson

Donald Robert Larson

April 23, 1931 ~ November 20, 2017

Loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Donald Robert Larson was taken home to his Father in Heaven by angels who came to visit him in the earlier in the morning of Monday, November 20, 2017. He waited to leave this life until the early afternoon of that day when his wife and daughter were by his side.

He was born on April 23, 1931 in South Gate, California to Elmer Julius and Sarah Ellen Larson.  He forever had a love of the state of California even though he lived the last 26 years of his life in Utah to be closer to his children who had moved there. He graduated from Bell High School, attended Compton Jr. College, and received a bachelor’s degree in Education and masters in administration from Cal State Los Angeles. He taught school for 30 years, the majority of those years at John Glenn High School in Norwalk, CA.

He loved sports. He played basketball, softball (baseball) and ran track both for school and church and received many trophies and medals. He also coached, timed and referred them as well.

He was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 19 and later served a full-time mission to the Great Lakes Mission where he served one year in Columbus, Ohio and also in Marion, Indiana. He served in various callings including seminary teacher, high priest group leader and favorite as that of a home teacher.

He married Beverly Arlene Kendell in the Mesa Arizona Temple on March 27, 1958.  They were blessed with three children who will miss him every day. His children knew him as their counselor, confidant and greatest fan.

He was preceded in death by his parents and older brother. He was survived by his wife, Beverly Arlene; children, Nancy (Roy) Nichols, David, and Linda (Jarrod) Larson Staffen; 17 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; and his younger brother Ronald.

Words that his friends, acquaintances and children describe him with are caring, faithful and stalwart.  The average person was very important to him and he taught his classes at school about the importance of everyone in life.

Arlene was his caregiver for many years and we are grateful for the care she gave him as well as the many home health care nurses and loving home teachers who watched over him in his last years.

No services at this time.