Barbara Ann Larsen

Barbara Ann Larsen, age 75, passed away peacefully at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 27, 2023. She was surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Anchorage, Alaska to Joseph McNeil and Claire Elizabeth Martin in the old Providence Hospital on April 1, 1948. She spent the first several days of life in an incubator, weighing only four pounds at birth due to her mother’s complications with toxemia during pregnancy.

As a young girl Barbara attended North Star, and Nunaka Valley elementary schools. During her teenage years she would attend Orah Dee Clark Junior High, followed by East Anchorage High School where she graduated in 1967. She attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho before making the decision to go to Minnesota and pursue a career in the aviation industry. She would train at McConnel Airline School earning a certificate of completion.

After returning to Anchorage Barbara would meet her “Prince Charming,” Kent Charles Larsen. He was serving in the United States Military, at Ft. Richardson Army Base, as a Military Policeman. They had met at an LDS church activity, and quickly fell in love. Barbara would make frequent visits to the base to visit Kent. She knew the secret code word to get her passed the guard station. All she simply had to say was she was there to see “The Preach” – a nickname Kent was well known by.  

When Kent received his honorable discharge from the service, he and Barbara were married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 25,1969. They would make their home in Salt Lake City, Utah and have five wonderful children.

Barbara found joy in raising her children. She was a loving mother and was always there for them – even taking a job at the local elementary school, where her kids went, as the playground monitor. Her caring and nurturing ways led her to open up her home to other parents in need of daycare for their children. These children were always treated as if they were her own and she adored the attention and love they gave back to her. This prepared her for being the greatest grandmother to her eight grandchildren, which she loved unconditionally.

Besides taking care of children, Barbara worked jobs in retail, banking, and customer service. Perhaps the greatest service she provided was serving her church. As an active life-long member Barbara held many positions within the church. She would serve in the Primary, and on the Stake Athletic Committee to name a few. Her love of sports came from watching her children play baseball, softball, basketball, and volleyball. Kent was always involved with sports so it became a natural part of her own life.

The greatest calling of all came when her and Kent became “Service Missionaries” for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Together they would visit the less fortunate, honorably serving others while helping to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through kindness and love. Barbara loved being a missionary, and always shared her testimony with others when the opportunity presented itself.

After her beloved husband Kent passed away, Barbara became lonely. They had always been by each other’s side, being married for 52-years. Health conditions resulted in her living at City Creek Post Acute, a nursing home. While there, she received the care and attention she needed. The staff was amazing to her, to say the least, and she developed such good friendships with them and many residents.

Barbara is survived by her five children: Angelique and her husband Hiro Shimada, Aaron Kent and his wife Jeongsun Larsen, Jared Alvie Larsen, Mark Joseph and his wife Brynn Larsen, and Jennifer and her husband James Chithalen.  She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Satoshi, Quincy, Tyler, Deacon, Grady, Rowan, JJ, and Arya; And two step granddaughters: Mayumi and Kiyomi. Also surviving Barbara are her sister Mary Louise and husband Phillip Miner, her brother John Phillip and his wife Brenda Martin, and six nieces and three nephews, including many extended family members. Barbara was proceeded in death by husband Kent Charles Larsen, her parents Claire Elizabeth and Joseph McNeil Martin, and sister Evelyn Faye Buchannan.

The family would like to express their gratitude and thanks to City Creek Post Acute, and the ICU staff that cared for her at St. Mark’s Hospital. They provided excellent care for her in her last days.

A viewing will be held the evening of Thursday, August 10, 2023 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Location:  5913 S. Highland Dr., Holladay, Utah.  The Funeral service will be held the following day on Friday at 11:00 AM with a viewing prior to service being held from 10:00 to 10:45 AM at the same location.  Interment at Elysian Burial Gardens, 1075 E. 4580 S., Millcreek, Utah.

Funeral Service may be viewed online at the following Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82813401495?pwd=M1p5UENXZ09RS0VEK1A1eExIUkRpUT09

Meeting ID: 828 1340 1495; Passcode: 151203