Joyce Larsen
Joyce passed away after complications from an unknown illness. She was surrounded by her family. She was born in Huntington, Utah, the first daughter to Ronald John and Emma Pauline Killpack Leonard on June 3, 1936, in her grandmother’s bedroom with the cord wrapped around her neck. She wasn’t expected to live, but she survived with a subtle, but strong will filled with compassion.
She grew up in Bear River City playing ball, camping with her family, and helping her mother. She loved to go with her father as he coached various sports. Joyce loved her family and spent several summers in Huntington or St. George with her many cousins. They would be on the farm, playing rubber gun, and running through the various orchards. As the oldest child and grandchild, she would help care for younger cousins when she was around.
She attended Box Elder High School where she met Curtis Daines Larsen. She would often say this was the only man she ever wanted to marry and spend her life with. They were married on July 27, 1956, in the Logan Utah Temple. She had one year of higher education, focused on business, at Weber State College. They started their home in Mantua, Utah, and she lived there until her death.
Joyce had a passion for hair. She started “combing” wigs in the sixties. She loved this work. Eventually, she moved the business into her home combining her work and motherhood. She reared three children: Sue Ann, Lynn, and Kyle. She delighted in watching her children grow and develop their own unique talents. Joyce also loved her grandchildren and was always glad to share a story about their latest accomplishments.
Church and her Father in Heaven were the focus of her life. She would have her Book of Mormon lying next to her at night to read her scriptures. She served with the Young Women, camping and hiking, as Relief Society President, but mostly with indexing and Family History. Her joy came from attending the temple weekly with her son Lynn, working on her own history, and indexing South African death records.
Joyce had many opportunities to travel after her husband passed. She would travel with her sons to historic sites and to watch her granddaughter play golf at Pine Hurst North Carolina. She would try to attend the temple on these trips and would always get a photo of herself outside of the Temple. She was able to go to Nine Mile canyon with Kyle and his family and talk about her family’s brush with a member of Butch Cassidy’s gang. Family stories were everything to her. This was instilled in her from her grandmother on the front lawn as she told Joyce about going down through Hole ‘n The Rock as a little girl.
Joyce was a proud member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She was also a certified member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. Her line has been documented and traced back to Thomas Rogers from the Mayflower. She loved telling people about her ancestry and visiting Plymouth.
Joyce is survived by her daughter Sue Ann (Richard) Larsen Holmgren, Lynn Curtis Larsen, and Kyle J (Michelle) Larsen, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Her two brothers Ronald Jon Leonard, and Elliott Bruce Leonard. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Curtis Daines Larsen, parents Ronald John Leonard, Emma Pauline Killpack Leonard, and one Sister Janice Leonard Olsen.
The family would like to thank Ogden Regional Staff for all they did for her, and especially Dr. Megan Grunander, Dr. Lietke, Dr. Jordan, and the many friends in Mantua, who always loved and supported her and her family.
A viewing will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024 from 6-8 at the Mantua Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 237 S Willard Peak Road, Mantua, Utah.
The funeral will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 11:00 am at the church. A short viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:30-10:30. Interment will be in the Mantua City Cemetery.
If you would like to watch the livestream or leave condolences for the family please visit www.gilliesmortuary.com.