Beloved Mother, Aunt, Friend
Lucy Larson died at home Sat, March 31; she was 95. Daughters Nancy Lou Larson and Billie Gay Larson were at her side.
In January she suffered serious injuries in an accident and the trauma and subsequent surgeries overwhelmed her. Her husband and partner, W. G. "Bill" Larson died March 3, 2001; they had celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary together on Dec 14, 2000.
Born Oct 26, 1905, in Pleasant Grove, UT, to Soren Sorenson of Aussa Hjoering, Denmark, Charlotte "Lottie" Richins of Goshen, UT, Lucy Grace Sorenson was the 10th of 11 children, all of whom predeceased her.
Her father was a small boy when his parents left Denmark as Mormon converts headed for Salt Lake City, Territory of Deseret. Later, Soren Sorenson worked as a teamster, respected for his skill and his particularly fine horses. He hauled gold and silver out of American Fork Canyon; he also maintained an orchard. When Lucy was a young girl, the family moved to Bingham Canyon, UT, where her father continued his work as a teamster, again using his own horses, hauling ore from the copper mines.
Her mother was the daughter of Mormon converts John and Charlotte Richins of Sheepstomb, Painswick, Glouc. England, who were 22 and 21 years old when they joined the Fourth Handcart Company, led by Captain James G. Willie. On foot and pulling a handcarts, they departed Iowa City in July, survived an early killing snowstorm that stranded the Company causing many deaths, and arrived in Salt Lake City in Nov 1957.
In Bingham, Charlotte Sorenson ran a small boarding house operation; she also assisted the town doctor in caring for the sick and served as a midwife.
Lucy was energetic and curious. As a teenager, she worked at a number of occupations, she particularly enjoyed her job as a photographer's assistant. She loved a challenge and when she was 20, she sold the most raffle tickets in a competition and won the prize -- $500 or a new car. Her closest competitor was her friend Ivy Baker (later Ivy Baker Priest, Secretary of the Mint in President Eisenhower's Administration. They remained friends despite their political differences.) Lucy opted for the prize money, heading for southern California, staying with her brother Jess and his family. She wanted to visit new places and meet new people--interests she would pursue and enjoy throughout her life.
After they married, Bill and Lucy moved to Magna, UT in 1928. Lucy continued to work at a variety of jobs: running the counter at Puck C's soda fountain, selling millinery items at the Darling Store and perfume and cosmetics at Auerbachs.
During the Second World War, Lucy worked at the Arms Plant, located between Redwood Road and 5600 West. She had nephews in combat in each of the armed services, and when Tharel McDonald was on a brief home leave from the Navy she asked him to visit her munitions group to explain the importance of dependable ammunition.
When her daughters were 9 and 2 years old, Lucy and Bill opened the Larson Drugstore on Magna's main street. She unlocked the door at 7 a.m. and locked up at 11 p.m. She kept track of the inventory and was responsible for ordering, including pharmaceutical supplies. Lucy insisted that the pharmacists she hired watch for possible dangers when customers were taking drugs prescribed by more than one doctor.
After the drugstore was sold, Lucy ran the telephone switchboard at the Hotel Utah, at KSL Studio and, long after her husband had left the State Legislature, she loved to work the switchboard at the State Capitol when the Legislature was in session.
In 1967, while visiting her daughter Nancy in Italy, Lucy embarked on the most exciting "job" of her life. She was invited to serve as a "hostess" on the final voyage of the famed Queen Mary. She boarded the ship at Lisbon, Portugal and disembarked with the other passengers at several island and South American locations before the ship made its final port call at Long Beach, CA.
Active in Democratic Party politics by the time she cast her first ballot, she encouraged her husband to seek political office. Meanwhile, she served at every level in party politics, from Voting District Chair to State Delegate and she was an active member and organizer of the Magna's Democratic politics and the Salt Lake County Women's Democratic Club.
After the War, Lucy joined the American Legion Auxiliary. She was elected to leadership positions and attended meetings and conventions in cities throughout the United States. Prior to the revolution in Cuba and the rise of Fidel Castro, Lucy visited Havana with her sister legionnaires.
Lucy enjoyed a special relationship with each of her brothers Jess, Floyd, Duane and Vern, and sisters Bertha, Flora and Vida (brothers Edgar and Russell and sister Lenore died before she was born). She also had a particularly close relationship with many of their children. Aunt Lucy wanted all to be happy; she was devastated by their sorrow and misfortunes; she was elated by their personal triumphs and accomplishments.
Words fail to adequately describe the vitality of her personality, the uniqueness of her charm, or the depth of her profound understanding. She led a full and purposeful life. She extended a helping hand and dispensed encouragement and strength with a special touch. It is impossible to express how much she will be missed. No one will ever come close to baking a coconut cake like Lucy's!
On Tues, April 3, friends may call 6-8 p.m. at Peel Funeral Home, 8525 W. 2700 So. Friends may also call Wed one hour prior to funeral services, which will be held 12 noon Wed, April 4, 2001, at Magna Stake Center, 3084 So. 8400 W., Magna.
Interment: Valley View Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Heart Association in Lucy's name.