Betty June Butler Larsen

Betty June Butler Larsen
Betty was born to Laurel H. and Ruth Priestley Butler on Jan. 31, 1923 in St. Anthony, ID. She has one brother, Everett Laurel Butler. She graduated from Madison High School and the LDS Seminary in Rexburg, Idaho in 1941. She was a cheerleader, played clarinet in the school band, sang in school choir, and was a member of the high school Drama club and a girls club called “The Pepper Club.”
She attended nursing school at the St. Joseph Methodist Hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri. She worked at the Remington arms plant in Salt Lake City where bullets were made during WWII.
She married LaGrande C. Larsen on February 5, 1943 in the Salt Lake Temple. They had six sons and one daughter. All six sons served missions for the LDS Church. All seven children were married in the temple. They have 48 grandchildren and 106 great-grandchildren, all of which she consistently reminded were “hers” for time and all eternity.
While living in Teton County, ID she served as a Political Party Chairman and PTA President. She organized and directed the Teton High School drill team called “The Fabulous Featherettes” who achieved state championship honors for several years in a row. She organized and sang in “The Choraliers,” a women’s singing group that sang for programs, on the radio, and at funerals. She also sang together with her husband for many special events in Teton Valley. She and LaGrande along with a few other couples founded Pierre’s Playhouse, a community melodrama theatre in Victor, ID.
After moving to Logan, she and her family built the Pickleville Playhouse summer theatre on the banks of Bear Lake. Pickleville is still managed by family members and has provided high-quality, wholesome family entertainment since 1977. Betty had great love for the hundreds of “adopted” family members that worked with her at Pickleville over the years. She and LaGrande rarely missed a performance.
Betty was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She served as a Sunday school teacher, primary song leader, dance director, member of the Stake MIA presidency, young women’s leader, cub scout leader, twice as Relief Society president, Relief Society board member and visiting teacher. She was also an officiator in the Logan temple. In 1989 Betty served with her husband as a full-time missionary in the Phillipines Davao Mission and returned there for a second short-term mission in 1991. She was honored as the Utah Mother of the Year in 1993 and had speaking engagements in several states while serving on the National Mothers Council.
Betty’s life was spent devoted to her family. She never missed an important family event. Whether it was a sporting event, dance recital, graduation, baby blessing, missionary farewell, wedding or any other significant occasion, she was always there loving, nurturing and encouraging as the matriarch of her family. She always encouraged her family by word and deed to keep their “Honor Bright” and reassured them that “That’ll Work!” She had very special, loving relationships with each family member and will be missed dearly.
Betty passed away on Sept. 2, 2010. She is survived by sons James (Judy), Steven (Jeanne), Bruce (Debra), Ryan (Laura), Wayne (Kris) and daughter Andrea (Ted). She was preceded in death by her husband LaGrande and her son John (Marlys). Her husband, children, their spouses and their children have been the joy of her life.
Memorial services will be held at noon on Wednesday, September 8th at the North Logan Stake Center (2750 N. 800 E.) with a viewing beforehand from 10 to 11:30 a.m. There will also be a viewing Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Allen Mortuary (420 E. 1800 N. North Logan). Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net