Robert Ivan Larson

Robert Ivan Larson, 91, of Vineyard, Utah, stepped through the veil on September 26, 2024. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Bob was the eldest of three children to Ivan Victor and Edna Kempton Larson.

Bob’s early years were spent in Portland, Oregon, where his father pursued a career in sales. As a young boy, Bob was captivated by the news of World War II’s epic battles, an interest he maintained throughout his life. The family later returned to Phoenix, where Bob completed his elementary and high school education.

Bob served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Sweden Stockholm Mission. Following his mission, he joined the military, undergoing basic training as an infantryman at Fort Lewis, Washington. It was during this period that he met and fell in love with Norma Gail Rogers, Miss Phoenix. They married on December 21, 1957, in the Mesa Arizona Temple and began their life together in Norfolk, Virginia, where Bob completed his military service.

Bob graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and later earned a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling. He discovered a passion for teaching and worked at the Youth Center, an educational unit at the Utah State Hospital in Provo, which became his career. Bob enjoyed engaging in extracurricular activities with his students, including camping trips, musical performances, and upholstery projects.

In 1968, Bob and his growing family moved to Orem, where they bought a house with more space. As their family expanded, they built a new, larger home nearby, complete with gardens, fruit trees, and space for animals. He cherished spending time with his children, especially on deer hunting and camping trips.

Bob served in many church callings and was always ready to help others, often using his tractor and Rhino blade to clear snow from driveways in the winter. After retiring, Bob and Gail served missions in the 12-Step program and the church cannery, as well as other ward callings.

With children and grandchildren living in various parts of the U.S., Bob and Gail loved traveling to see them. Once, when both were in their 70s, they traveled to Belgium to witness a grandson’s baptism.

In 2020, Bob and Gail sold their home in Orem and moved to a retirement community in Vineyard. Bob’s legacy of love, service, and dedication to family and faith will be cherished by all who knew him.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Vicky and Mary Sue, his wife Gail, in-laws, and a son, Mark. He is survived by his children: Trent (Andrea), Sarah (Mark’s wife), Terri (Mark) Peterson, Chad (Christine), Kirk (Trisha), Ryan (Mindy), Steven; 24 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 7, 2024, at the Wheeler & Sundberg Funeral Home Chapel, 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah. Viewings for family and friends will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at the mortuary and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 7 before the services at the mortuary. Burial will be in the Orem City Cemetery with military honors.

 Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page. 

For those unable to attend the services they can be viewed by clicking HERE