Reid Kay Larsen

Reid Kay Larsen, 82, passed away April 21, 2015.

He was born November 27, 1932 in Idaho Falls, Idaho to J. Berkeley and Florence Tingey Larsen.  He was the youngest of six children. He grew up on the family farm in Firth, Idaho.  He harnessed and worked with horses to cultivate the land.  They grew potatoes and harvested with a one row digger. They raised cattle and pastured them in the hills near the Blackfoot River.  They raised alfalfa, and harvested the loose hay with a buck rake, pitch forks, horse drawn wagon and stacked with the derrick.

He attended Lower Presto School first through eighth grade.  He attended Firth High School where he played football and graduated in 1950 as Salutatorian.  He attended Ricks College in Rexburg and was the editor of the Ricksida yearbook.

In 1951, he met Janice Marilyn Clayson from Salt Lake City and they were married March 10, 1952 in Salt Lake City. Their first child, Reid Kay Larsen, Jr. was born in Provo while Reid attended BYU.  

Reid’s plans to finish his bachelor’s degree and continue on to Law School were changed by a car accident and they decided to go back to Firth and farm with his father.  For the next 17 years they lived on the farm and added 5 more children to their family; Gregory Kim, Kevin Lon, Thomas Andrew, Kristine and Melanie Teresa.  During these years, Reid loved to fly, served as a scoutmaster, and was an active member of the Idaho Potato Growers Assn.   After several poor crop years, the early desire to be an attorney was reignited and Reid returned to his education.  He finished his Bachelor’s degree at Idaho State and received a degree in accounting.  In the fall of 1971, Reid and Janice moved their family to Moscow, Idaho where Reid attended the University of Idaho to study law.  Working as an auto mechanic part time to help support his family, he graduated in 1975 with his Juris Doctorate.  They moved back to SE Idaho where Reid served as Bingham County Prosecuting Attorney and later the prosecuting attorney for Blackfoot, Shelley and Firth, Idaho.

He was a member of the L.D.S. church, an incredible gospel doctrine teacher for many years, served in the bishopric in the early years of Goshen and as executive secretary when they lived in Rockford.  Reid was very well respected for his honesty and integrity in all of his personal and business relationships.

Janice passed away in March 1988.  Reid found a second sweetheart and married Ada “Marie” Stander Johnson in August 1989.  In 1997, Reid retired and returned to his roots of farming and raising cattle back on the Larsen family farm.  He and Marie worked side by side and enjoyed many years of farming together.  They also enjoyed snowmobiling with family and friends.  Together they have 9 children, 34 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Marie Larsen of Meridian, sister, Naida Goodwin of Logan, Utah, children Reid Larsen, Jr.  (Linda) of Philomath, Oregon,  G. Kim Larsen (Marilyn) of Firth, Idaho, Kevin “Oily” Larsen (Leann) of Firth, Idaho, Kris Hansen (Lynn) of Nephi, Utah and Melanie Zimmerman (Tracy) of Renton, Washington, step- daughters Pam Bremer of Switzerland, Brenda Burget (Art) of Meridian, Idaho and Barbra Limber (Dave) of Boise, Idaho.

He is preceded in death by his parents, J. Berkeley and Florence Larsen, two brothers J. Berkeley Larsen, Jr. and Allen Larsen, two sisters, Geraldine Reid and Maxine Jowers, his son Thomas Andrew Larsen, one grandson, and one great-granddaughter.

Services will be held Saturday, April 25

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at 11:00 a.m. at the Goshen L.D.S. Chapel, 792 North 1090 East, Shelley.  Viewing will be Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 W. Oak Street, Shelley and one hour before the service on Saturday at the chapel.  Burial will be in the Goshen Cemetery.