Marion Theodore (Ted) Lauritzen
December 10, 1940 — July 17, 2023
“I did it my way”
I was born on a farm in Short Creek Arizona. I was the 4th child in my family with siblings Joann, Richard, Hope, Karl, and Arthur. My parents were Richard Dawn and Elizabeth Moyes Lauritzen.
Childhood growing up on the farm was a great experience. I learned where food came from. I worked the garden. I milked cows and fed the pigs and the chickens. I helped my dad irrigate and harvest the crops. Family gatherings with my cousins and uncles and aunts and grandparents, eating corn, fruit and melons was great! My family moved to Hurricane, Utah where my mother got work teaching school and my father quit farming to become a truck driver.
My Brother Richard and I attended the 1953 National Boy Scout Jamboree in Irvine, California. It was a real eye opener gathering to see scouts from everywhere.
I was a hard worker and always had a job, delivering newspapers, harvesting crops, cutting lawns, etc. My mother believed in education and decided to move up north to be closer to higher education. We moved to Salt Lake City in 1955. My mother had a difficult time getting employment in Salt Lake. The family moved to Brigham City in 1957 when my mother got work at Intermountain Indian School.
I graduated from Box Elder High School in 1959. I worked the next two summers in Yellowstone National Park. I learned Spanish when I served a two-and-a-half-year LDS Mission in the west Spanish American Mission in 1960-1963.
I graduated From Utah State University in 1965 with a B.S. in Business and Accounting.
I met and fell in love with a beautiful Danish farm girl, from Howell, Utah. Her name is Vicki Fonnesbeck. We were married in the Salt Lake Temple on February 25th, 1966.
I worked In Los Angeles California for six years as a tax auditor for the State of California Board of Equalization. I am a Vietnam veteran having served in the 311th Logistics command for six years for the Army Reserves.
Vicki and I are the proud parents of six children, Lisa, Timothy, Kristi, Mark, Paul, and Amy. We have many grandchildren and great-great children.
I have had many church callings including three stake missions, Scout Master, Bishopric, Sunday School President, Young Men’s President, member of the High Priest leadership. My favorite calling was teaching the Gospel Doctrine classes.
I have always enjoyed being a salesman. I have been involved in selling Real Estate starting in the early 1970’s. The real Estate business was challenging. I obtained my broker’s license in 1976 and bought a Century 21 franchise. My Real Estate business (Century 21 Lauritzen and Associates) at one time consisted of 3 brokerages with over 80 agents. I was the president of the Century 21 Utah State Brokers Council. I was a director of the Salt Lake Board of Realtors.
The real-estate boom in southern Utah enticed us to move our family to St George in 1983. We had a great experience seeing that area grow and develop in just a few years. After 25 years in southern Utah, Vicki and I returned to Brigham City in 2006 and have enjoyed getting old together with all our kids and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
I worked in door-to-door sales until my working days were cut short in 2017 when health concerns forced me to retire after working 18 years as a salesman for Winder Farms. I enjoyed getting out and always meeting people and obtaining orders.
I have always been grateful to Vicki for a long and successful marriage and her great companionship. She is the “Rock” of our family and a great stay at home mother.
Ted, as he was affectionately known, lived a life full of laughter, ambition, and devotion to his family and faith. He spent his 82 years enriching the lives of those around him with his funny wit, engaging storytelling, and his unique ability to make everyone feel cherished and valued. Ted was married to the love of his life, Vicki Fonnesbeck for 57 wonderful years, and their love story is a testament to their mutual support and shared laughter. Their family expanded over the years to include 16 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren with whom Ted shared his love and wisdom. Ted’s motto, “live and let live,” was a testament to his uplifting and accepting nature. Ted had a fondness for working in his yard, reading, and indulging in his love for all kinds of food, especially Mexican cuisine. He was also a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He passed away in his home with his family by his side on July 17, 2023.
In addition to his wife Vicki and his Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, Ted is survived by his siblings. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Elizabeth Lauritzen, his sister Joann Robinson, brother Richard Lauritzen, his cherished daughter Kristi Miller, and grandson Justin Lauritzen.
The family would like to express their love and appreciation to Dr. John R Markeson, Melinda, and the rest of his staff for all of the time and attention they gave to Ted and his medical needs and to all of those who have shown love and acts of kindness during this difficult time and to our Heavenly Father for the time we had with Ted.
Viewing Services will be held Friday, July 28, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at Myers Mortuary, 205 S 100 E, Brigham City, UT. A Graveside Service will be held at the Brigham City Cemetery, 300 E 300 S, Brigham City, UT, at 10:30 a.m. Compassionate services/Luncheon provided by Brigham 16th Ward Relief Society, 500 S 200 W, Brigham City, UT.
Ted’s legacy of love, laughter, and ambition will continue to inspire all who knew him. We invite you to leave your memories of Ted and upload photos to his memorial page, as we celebrate a life beautifully lived.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.myers-mortuary.com.