Keith Larson

The Keith Larson Funeral Service was broadcast live on Saturday, July 25, 2020. You may view the recording here:

Norman Keith Larson (Keith), our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great-great grandfather, passed away at home with his sweetheart of over seventy years near his side this July 19, 2020. He was under the care of, and the family wishes to especially thank Jan Hughes and her family, and the staff of Hands of Hope for their care these last months.

Keith was born November 9, 1930, in Roberts, Idaho, the second child of Hans Fredrick Larson and Clarice Calkins. He was preceded in death by his younger brother, Martin (1956) and his younger sister, Lois Jeanne (Jack) Cragun (2013). He is survived by his siblings, Don (Jan) Larson (Common, Calgary, Canada), Jim (Carol) Larson (Ammon), and Hazel (Dix, deceased) Hoffman (Idaho Falls).

Keith grew up in Roberts until 1937, then the family moved to Idaho Falls. While in high school, Keith kept a paper route for several years, moving up the ranks in the business.

Thanks to Cat Thompson, well known in the area for his enthusiasm for Boy Scouting, Keith earned his merit badges along with his father, Fred, (it was allowed back then) and both received their Eagle Scout Awards. Keith spent many years serving in the Scouting program. He helped many young men, including many grandsons, get their Eagle Scout Awards, and we were always pleased to see him sitting in the Eagle's Nest at Eagle Scout presentations. Maybe a favorite memory of his girls is floating down the Boise River with his Scout troop.

Keith met his sweetheart, Bonne Jeanne Evans, in the spring of 1948, and soon they were a couple. They took out their endowments in the Salt Lake Temple because the Idaho Falls Temple was undergoing a remodel and was not done. They then went back to Idaho Falls to be sealed together in the Idaho Falls Temple, October 14, 1949, while Keith was attending the old Ricks Junior College, pursuing a degree in Education. He continued his education later, going back in the summers to earn his BA.

Soon after marriage, Keith and Jeanne welcomed four girls into their family, Debrah Larson Roundy (Carlos) (Burley, Idaho), Catherne Larson Meldrum (Kevin) (Salt Lake City, Utah), Clarice Larson Bench (Kevin) (Buckeye, Arizona), and Jan Larson Hughes (Richard) (Ammon, Idaho).

With a two-year certificate from Ricks College, Keith taught two years in Shelley, Idaho, then two years in Wendell, Idaho, from 1952-1954. In the summer, he continued his studies and earned his BA in Education. His next years were at Boise, Idaho (1954-1998). Here, he taught elementary school, and later was made an assistant principal at Lincoln. He then had a principalship at Pierce Park, and later at Cole School.

The school years were busy with teaching, and Keith was an excellent teacher, but his joy was the summers when he picked up his drafting tools and his hammer. He designed the family several homes and built them himself. His homes were well-built, and the family especially enjoyed the hand-crafted cabinets, dresser shelving, laundry chute, and other extras he built in. In 1970, he and Jeanne decided to make a big career leap. Keith would become a building contractor, building and selling homes. He continued this career for the rest of his life, always a project in his head ready to become reality. Indeed, Dad was a builder both of people and of homes.

While in Lincoln as an assistant principal, Keith worked with a special needs group and his students built and created things that amazed the school staff. At his end, he volunteered in his daughter, Debrah’s, special needs classroom once again. His skill with those young people was amazing, and each student for several years turned out a shelf or end table that was worthy of the finest of bedrooms for the loved students.

Keith spent his life in service to others. In the late 60’s, he heard of the Dale Carnegie course, and took it. He became skilled in the skills of making friends and influencing people, and became a teacher assistant for several sessions.

In his later school career, Keith taught at Pleasant Valley in the Jordan Valley School District (1982-83, 2 school years) and Three Creek (1987-89 years), duly listed on the maps as a population of two, Keith and Jeanne. He followed this with another two years at Hollister in the Filer School District, teaching grades 5-8.

Keith and Jeanne then returned to live in Idaho Falls (1998-2007). Habitat for Humanity with ESA kept Keith busy for several years after retirement, and it gave a happy purpose to his life.

The couple then moved to Rupert, Idaho (2007-2017), then back to Ammon to stay their last years under the tender care of their youngest daughter, Jan Hughes, and her family.

Keith was a life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served wherever called, and especially enjoyed being a Stake Missionary for many years. He made many life-long friends with the people he taught and grew to love. The calling of Ward Clerk was another love, and he would diligently work to keep the records up in the days before computers. Because of his diligent work, he was asked to serve under several Bishops, and again in Pleasant Valley. He also served as a Priesthood teacher and worked with the boys in the Young Men’s program. He was always conscientious in ward/home teaching. As they grew older, he and Jeanne would share their people to minister to and loved working together.

Besides serving the Boy Scouts, Keith served his community on the Boise Idaho School Board from 1972-1976. He was devoted to the community and would spend a lot of time listening to community members expressing their desires for the schools in Boise. He did not serve as a politician, but as a fellow elected citizen doing his part to make our schools better.

In their final moments together, his sweetheart and eternal love sang to him as she often did, his favorite songs and the most favorite, “Did I ever tell you that I love you?” and she did.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wood Funeral Home at: https://www.woodfuneralhome.com/. He will be interred in the Ammon Cemetery after a private family graveside service. The family requests privacy so as not to risk the health of the many family members who are in the at-risk category.