Phyllis Sederholm Larson

Phyllis Larson, 92, of Logan, passed away peacefully in her sleep June 15, 2017 of causes incident to age.

She was born "on or about" June 1, 1925 in Wells, Nevada. The exact circumstances of her birth are not totally clear, and the words "on or about" appear on the certificate of adoption to her parents Carlos and Vera Sederholm of Brigham City, Utah, where Phyllis grew up and graduated from Box Elder High School.

Phyllis attended Utah State University on a music scholarship. She played the piccolo and the flute. Although music got her to college, she eventually earned her degree in Elementary Education. But the highlight of her time at USU was meeting and marrying the love of her life Joseph Lyn Larson, whom everyone knew as "Swede". They were married September 17, 1946 in Brigham City, and were later sealed in the Logan LDS Temple. He preceded her in death in April of 2006.

After graduating from USU, Swede and Phyllis moved to Salt Lake City, where Swede pursued his love of journalism, writing for the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune, and Phyllis taught elementary school. She loved being a teacher, and her spunky personality loved defying the conventional gender roles of the time by holding dual roles as mother and career woman.

They spent the next 13 years there, interrupted by a brief stint running the Larson family farm in East Garland. These years were also interrupted by heartache, when their oldest child, 10-year-old Kristen, was stricken with leukemia and passed away in 1957, leaving a hole in Phyllis' heart that is finally filled at their joyful reunion.

In 1960, the Larson family returned to Logan, where Swede took a position as alumni director at Utah State and Phyllis settled in to her teaching career, mostly at Hillcrest Elementary, for the next 29 years. She taught most of the early grade school years, but her favorite was kindergarten. Thousands of Cache Valley children were immeasurably impacted by her love of learning and her love for them.

In 1989, the Larsons added the titles of Elder and Sister, and served faithfully and enthusiastically as missionaries for the LDS Church in the Rochester New York Mission at the Joseph Smith home in Palmyra, New York. Phyllis loved sharing her lifelong love of her Savior and His gospel with others.

Following their mission, Swede and Phyllis moved to St. George, because apparently it's mandatory for returning senior missionaries to do so. They remained there until Swede's death, shortly after which Phyllis returned to Logan to be near the majority of her family.

Swede and Phyllis' devotion to each other during their 60-year marriage was recognized in 2006 (shortly before Swede's death) with the presentation of the "Gold Medal Marriage" award by then-governor Jon Huntsman. Phyllis' example of a loving wife and mother serves as an inspiration to their five surviving children, Wesley Willard (Marie) of Logan, Jerrilyn (Mark) Jorgensen of St. George, Margaret "Maggie" (Mitchell) Skroski of Asheville, NC, Elizabeth "Liz" (Mark) Hadfield of Millville, and Vaughn Carlos of Logan, as well as her 22 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Her family daily strives to emulate her optimism, cheerfulness, and unconditional love.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon, Monday, June 19th, at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center Street in Logan. Friends may call prior to services from 10:30 until 11:30. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery, next to her beloved Swede-heart (hat tip EH).

The family extends their appreciation to the staffs at Pioneer Valley Lodge and The Gables Assisted Living & Memory Care for their loving care during these final days.