Larsen, Marjorie

BURLEY, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Zella Marjorie Wixom Larsen was born April 6, 1926, to Franklin David Wixom and Zella Jane Walters. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on March 2, 2025.

Marjorie was part of a large family that included Don, Ada, Marion, Elna, Clyde, Paul, Verna Dean King (all deceased), and Helen Ivie of Orem, Utah.

She frequently mentioned that there was always room in her family for relatives that were in need of help, and that most of the time there was at least one cousin, aunt, or grandparent living with them. Oh, how she loved her family!

She met her future husband, William D. Larsen, at a dance at the Y-Dell dance hall. They were married on July 3, 1947, and the marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple. Together, they raised five children: DeAnn Baker (Dale) ( both deceased), Kathy Warnick (Jerry), Carolyn Peterson (Nordell), Brent (Holly), and Reed (Carleen).

She was the proud grandmother of 32 grandchildren (Todd Bell, deceased), 65 and counting great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren.

She raised her family in Stars Ferry, and has many fond memories of her life there. She loved the 24th of July celebrations, ward Christmas parties, and great neighbors. She thought it was a wonderful place to bring up a family.

She spent most of her adult years working; first at Morgan’s Hardware (for 25 cents an hour), then Cornet, then as a secretary at Cassia County Courthouse, and finally as head secretary at Burley High School, for a little bit more than 25 cents an hour. She retired from the high school in 1985.

She made friends wherever she went. People loved her, and she loved them. She was especially grateful for her friends, Beulah, Cleo, Ruby, June, and her wonderful sisters-in-law. We think she is probably busy catching up with them. She was kind, loving, smart, industrious, and spunky.

She was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many callings, including ward librarian, Sunday School secretary, stake Relief Society secretary, Primary and Young Women teacher, and visiting teacher. She loved being a visiting teacher and went faithfully every month. She was partnered with Cleo Gochnour for 47 years! Marj and her husband, D, served two service missions; one at LDS Social Services and the other at the Home Storage Center, both in Burley. At that time, the cannery served 14 stakes. She enjoyed serving.

In December 2016, she moved to Fairfield Village in Layton, Utah. She quickly made new friends at Fairfield and treasured her time with them. In September of 2019, she suffered a massive stroke that left her paralyzed on the right side of her body. She demonstrated bravery, tenacity, and courage as she worked to learn to live with paralysis, loss of vision, and loss of hearing. She will forever be our hero.

We love you, Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Great-Great-Grandma, sister, aunt, and friend!

We are grateful to the administrators and staff of Sunridge Assisted Living of Layton for their kindness, compassion, and dedication to Mom as she made her way back Home.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 15, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—3rd / 7th Ward, located at 2200 Oakley Avenue, in Burley, with Bishop Mike Ricks officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery in Burley.

Family and friends will be received from 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, March 14, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th Street, in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday, preceding the funeral, at the church.

A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/j8QaEU18-dQ.