Charlene Nielsen Larsen

Our mom, Charlene Nielsen Larsen, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2024, in her home in Hyrum, after 92 years of a fulfilling life.

She was born to Grant and Gladys Nielsen in Hyrum, Utah, on July 23, 1931. Charlene was welcomed by her big sister Joyce. A sister, Varrell, had passed away two years earlier. Two brothers, Cardell and Garth, as well as two more sisters, Carolyn and ArlaDene, would complete the family in the following years.

Growing up in Hyrum provided an idyllic childhood for Charlene. She was raised drinking fresh milk from her father’s dairy farm and eating homegrown vegetables from her mother’s immaculate vegetable garden. She attended school at Lincoln Elementary. Her best friend, Beverly Miller, lived next door. She rode horses with her cousins, Darwin and Clyde. In the winters, she would ice skate on the frozen pond near Aunt Ruby’s and Uncle Blaine’s home.

In her teen years, her main mode of transportation was riding bicycles. Charlene would often stop at Homer’s Service Station to put air in her bike tires, and while there, caught the eye of a young man employed at the station, Melroy Larsen. The pair enjoyed dates to Uncle Dewey’s Café, where they ate French fries and sipped on Nee-High Orange drinks, outings to Bear Lake, and the Preston Rodeo. Mel asked Charlene to marry him while parked at the base of Logan Temple hill on August 7, 1948. Charlene then completed her final year of High School, graduating from South Cache High with the class of 1949, and days later married her sweetheart in the Logan Temple on June 6, 1949.

The newlyweds began married life living in Hyrum while Mel completed his senior year at Utah State Agricultural College. After graduation, the couple moved to Rexburg, Idaho, where their first child, Craig was born. Life brought them to Logan, Utah, where they welcomed two sons, Corey and Kevin. A daughter, Mary Ann, was born in Ogden, Utah. In 1969, Mel and Charlene achieved their dream of moving back to Hyrum, building a new home at 56 S. 700 E., that was her home for 54 years.

Charlene provided a lovely home and delicious home-cooked meals. She was known for her delicious shrimp salad, famous sugar cookies, and fruit cake at Christmas time. Charlene enjoyed embroidery work, watching sports, and reading. She loved photographs of family and has provided a legacy of family history with her photo books and records.

Charlene was preceded in death by her husband Garnel Melroy Larsen; sons Craig M. Larsen and Kevin G. Larsen; both of her parents; brothers Garth Nielsen and Cardell (Sarge) Nielsen; sisters Varrell Nielsen, Joyce Peterson, and Carolyn Jensen; and granddaughter Hayley Larsen Jensen. Surviving is her son Corey G. Larsen (Mary Ann) of Hyrum; daughter Mary Ann (Robert) Henke of Providence; sister ArlaDene (Theo) Thomson of Logan; 14 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren.

Many thanks to Dr. Michael Francis and staff and Dr. Scott Theurer and staff for their affectionate care, to IHC Hospice and Rohn Larsen for his instant connection with Charlene, and to Assisting Hands Home Care and their loving caregivers (most recently Kindra, Esther, and Courtney) who played a significant role in allowing Mom to remain at home.

There will be a viewing held Saturday, February 24, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM at Nelson Funeral Home, 162 E. 400 N. in Logan, Utah, followed by a memorial service at noon at the same location. Internment will be in the Hyrum City Cemetery.

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