Lawrence Larsen

At 97 years old Larry Larsen was still tying salmon leaders in preparation for an upcoming fishing trip to Alaska and helping problem solve a frozen waterline at his beloved cabin. Larry passed away on April 19, 2023.
Larry liked solving problems, was an avid reader and graceful fly fisherman. He relished being outdoors. Larry loved his family - Janet, beloved wife of almost 50 years, five children, 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He especially liked spending time with his great grandkids. As a child of the depression born June 15, 1925 in Bellevue, Nebraska, he believed in hard work, taking responsibility for yourself, and providing for family. Larry always had a project going and liked to figure things out. He took pride in the things he did and in keeping things up.
Larry moved out west to work on a ranch after dropping out of high school. When he turned 18 he enlisted in the Navy serving as a flight mechanic on a PBM Mariner seaplane in World War II. Like many of his generation, the GI bill put him through college where he studied mechanical engineering.
It was in college that Larry met Janet Nelson. They married in 1951 in Janet’s home town of Homer, NE. Homer and the Nebraska farm were close to his heart throughout his life. Larry shared his love of the outdoors with his children through family camping trips, canoeing, skiing and adventures. Larry supported all five children through college. When Larry retired, he and Janet built the cabin that he was so proud of . The cabin became the family gathering place, making so many memories filled with laughter and fun. Stories of sledding down the road and the plays the Grandchildren put on are still told in the family.
Larry and Janet were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Idaho falls. They had good friends in the church, Enjoying monthly breakfasts and adventures with the Desert Flock. Larry was the primary caregiver for Janet after her stroke, always making sure she got out to do things. When Janet passed away in 2011- Larry continued their yearly trip to Alaska through 2022 when he was still catching salmon and pulling in the crab pots.
Larry started as an engineer in training with General Electric after college when he and Janet moved to the east coast for a year at different locations. Eventually he left GE and moved west to work in Ogden at Thiokall. They settled in Idaho Falls for Larry to work for the Westinghouse nuclear facility at the engineering site where he worked for half of his career. He worked at the Argonne National Laboratory national laboratories as a mechanical engineer for the last part of his career. Larry liked to joke that he was retired longer than he worked.
Larry was preceded in death by his wife Janet, brothers Art and Harold and sisters Alice and Mildred. He is survived by his five children - Karla (Rick) Albano, Diane (Joe) Ewing, Don (Heather) Larsen, Kristine (Gregg) Losinski, Eric (Anna) Larsen; 10 grandchildren and 7 great
grandchildren. Instead of sending flowers please donate to your favorite charity in honor of Larry.
Larry, may you and Janet sit together forever on the cabin porch watching family and the sun go down.

Service at First Presbyterian Church 325 Elm St. Idaho Falls, ID at April 26, 2023, 11:00 am.