Michael W. Larsen

August 20, 1944 - July 17, 2016

Michael Wallace Larsen, age 71, died on Sunday, July 17, 2016 after a 40 year battle with debilitating Multiple Sclerosis. He fought paralyzing disability with courage, optimism, and nobility of spirit. He was born August 20, 1944 at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, the oldest of 10 children. Parents: Vernon W. Larsen and Margaret Brandley Larsen. Michael attended High School at Bedford Road Collegiate Institute in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, where he was Student Body President and Captain of the basketball team his senior year; 1962. Because of his rigorous Canadian education, he was admitted to Brigham Young University as a sophomore where he then earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Political Science and Economics. He attended the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania for a Ph.d in Urban and Resource Planning with an emphasis in Strategic Planning and Econometrics. He worked for Westinghouse Research Corporation in Churchill, PA, and for Potlatch Timber and Paper in Spokane, WA. He also taught Economics at the University of Eastern Washington in Spokane. In 1980 he came to Utah to teach in the BYU Business School MBA Program until his Multiple Sclerosis became too debilitating to continue working. Michael served faithfully in the LDS Church. He was a premier Scoutmaster, High Councilman and President of Seminaries and Institutes in Western Pennsylvania. He also served an honorable mission in French Polynesia (Tahiti), where he is still greatly loved by many church members there. Michael married Cathryn Christensen in the Salt Lake Temple on August 27, 1969. Together they have seven children (2 daughters and 5 sons): Kristen (Scott) Robinson, Arryn (Steve) Jibson, Jon (Nicole) Larsen, Loran (Merilee) Larsen, Tres (Alaina) Larsen, Gabe (Carolyn) Larsen, and Kyle (Kaylee) Larsen. Their 20th grandchild will be born this year. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 11:00 am at the LDS Hillcrest 6th Ward Chapel, 1120 North 150 West, American Fork, UT, where Viewings will be held Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and prior to services on Thursday from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Interment in Alpine City Cemetery, 400 North Grove Drive, Alpine, UT.