LaRae Ballard Falslev

Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, LaRae Ballard Falslev, 80, passed away on April 26, 2009, at Logan Regional Hospital following a short illness. LaRae was born to Henry W. Jr. and Almeda Jane Roundy Ballard on March 26, 1929 in Benson, Utah, the youngest of seven children. She was raised in a home filled with love, peace, and unusual harmony. LaRae enjoyed life in Benson and has many pleasant and happy memories of being with family and friends, and helping on the family?s dairy and later poultry farm in her youth. Her siblings, June Reading, Nolan, Kenneth, Gwen Stevenson Pehrson, Bill, and LaRue Neeley were very dear to her. LaRae attended elementary school in Benson and graduated from North Cache High School and LDS seminary where she enjoyed association with her many friends. She attended Utah State Agricultural College for a few quarters before returning home to help care for her older brother, Bill, who passed away from a brain tumor in 1949. LaRae began dating Rulon Falslev, also of Benson, shortly after his return from an LDS mission. They were married March 8, 1950 in the Logan LDS Temple. They fixed up a little home on the 40 acre farm they purchased in Benson and began their life of raising a family and farming. They made a great partnership in everything they did. She spent her whole life serving and teaching her family. She shared her many talents through the beautiful quilts, handwork, and family histories that her family will treasure forever. She spent many years each spring working at Rudy?s Greenhouses as a planter. She loved her association with all she worked with there. LaRae served faithfully in various callings in Primary, Mutual, and Relief Society. In 1990, she and Rulon received a call and served an LDS mission in Missouri where they touched many lives as they shared the gospel of Jesus Christ. Upon their return in 1992 they served together in the Logan Temple. LaRae continued to serve there and had many dear Temple friends. She lost the love of her life to a tragic farming accident on Dec. 8, 1992. LaRae was truly an example of Christ-like service. She was always concerned for others and was always so willing and able to help where and whenever she could. She loved her Heavenly Father and her Savior, Jesus Christ and was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She will be truly missed by her family whom she loved dearly and who likewise loved her. LaRae is survived by her six children: Jolene Dale Spackman of Benson; Michael Pauline of Benson; Marsha Clark Israelsen of Young Ward; Mark Ava of South Weber, Chad Teresa of Benson; Nancy Ron Jensen of North Logan; 32 grandchildren and 21 great-grand children. She is also survived by a brother, Kenneth Ballard and a sister, LaRue Neeley. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers Nolan and Bill, sisters June and Gwen, granddaughter Jenessa Falslev, and grandson-in-law Justin Gunnell.
The family would like to express their deep appreciation for the physicians and hospital staff who took such tender and loving care of LaRae in the last week of her life.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 1, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at the Benson 1st Ward Chapel 3432 North 3000 West, Benson. Friends and family may call Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.at Nelson Funeral Home, 162 East 400 North in Logan and on Friday from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. at the Benson Chapel. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com .
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the LDS Missionary Fund or the LDS Perpetual Education Fund.