Larry Andrew Olsen passed away on July 1, 2012 in St. George, Utah. He was born on August 9, 1933, at Preston, Idaho, and was the son of Frank Lyder Olsen and Hilda Oveda Nash Olsen. In the small town of Weston, Idaho, he was reared and graduated from West Side High School in Dayton, Idaho, in 1951.
In 1953 he served as a missionary in the Canadian Mission in Ontario, Canada. After his mission, he served for two years in the U. S. Army as a stenographer for the Inspector General at Fort Hood, Texas.
He married Sharon Nuffer from Preston, Idaho, in 1957 in the Logan LDS Temple. They both completed their bachelor’s degrees at BYU in 1959. They moved to Cedar City, Utah in 1959, where Larry taught Business Education at the Cedar City High School for three years. He then received a teaching position at the College of Southern Utah, now Southern Utah University. Sharon was recruited to take his place at Cedar City High School, and she taught there for eleven years. They enjoyed many trips to National Business Education Association meetings together.
During his teaching career, he received his masters degree from Utah State University (1967) and his doctorate degree (1974) from Brigham Young University. He served on the board of the Utah Business Education Association three different times, and one term as President-elect and President of that association during 1976-1977. He received the honor of being named Teacher of the Year in 1986 by the Utah Business Education Association. He served two different terms as Department Chairman of the Business Education Department at SUU. Distinguished Educator Award was given to him by SUU in 1980. The Outstanding Service Award from Phi Beta Lambda (student organization) was awarded for the years 1962-1995. He retired in 1995 from SUU after 38 years of teaching at the University and at Cedar City High School.
As an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served as a Stake Clerk for 11 years, Elders Quorum President, Bishop, and High Councilman in the Cedar City Utah West Stake. He served with his wife as Stake Extraction Directors for 10 years. He also enjoyed his talent in playing the organ for church services since he was a teenager.
In 2003-2005, he and his wife were called to serve a mission to the Philippines Manila Mission, where they served in the mission office. They enjoyed this experience with the missionaries and the Filipino people in the branches where they served.
He is survived by his wife Sharon and four children, Martell Trevor Olsen, Cedar City; Laurie Leigh (Kevin) Barrett, Cedar City; Troy Lance Olsen (Jolene), St. George; and Lisa Lynne Albright (Ken), Syracuse, Utah. Also survived by nine grandchildren, Brandy, Travis, Alexa, Trent, Kalin, Ashton, Brady, Ethan, and Brinlee. He is also survived by two brothers and a sister: Clair Nash Olsen (Virginia) Brigham City, Utah; Tamara Olsen Evans (Bruce), Overland Park, Kansas; and Michael Frank Olsen (Rebecca) Salt Lake City, Utah.
Visitation with family members will be on Thursday, July 5 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. Also on Friday, July 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Relief Society room at 256 South 900 West, Cedar City, Utah. Funeral services will then be held at 1:00 p.m. in the Cedar City (2nd, 9th, and 17th) Ward chapel. Burial will be at the Cedar City, Utah Cemetery.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, (435) 673-2454. Friends may sign Larry’s guestbook at www.spilsburymortuary.com.
In 1953 he served as a missionary in the Canadian Mission in Ontario, Canada. After his mission, he served for two years in the U. S. Army as a stenographer for the Inspector General at Fort Hood, Texas.
He married Sharon Nuffer from Preston, Idaho, in 1957 in the Logan LDS Temple. They both completed their bachelor’s degrees at BYU in 1959. They moved to Cedar City, Utah in 1959, where Larry taught Business Education at the Cedar City High School for three years. He then received a teaching position at the College of Southern Utah, now Southern Utah University. Sharon was recruited to take his place at Cedar City High School, and she taught there for eleven years. They enjoyed many trips to National Business Education Association meetings together.
During his teaching career, he received his masters degree from Utah State University (1967) and his doctorate degree (1974) from Brigham Young University. He served on the board of the Utah Business Education Association three different times, and one term as President-elect and President of that association during 1976-1977. He received the honor of being named Teacher of the Year in 1986 by the Utah Business Education Association. He served two different terms as Department Chairman of the Business Education Department at SUU. Distinguished Educator Award was given to him by SUU in 1980. The Outstanding Service Award from Phi Beta Lambda (student organization) was awarded for the years 1962-1995. He retired in 1995 from SUU after 38 years of teaching at the University and at Cedar City High School.
As an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served as a Stake Clerk for 11 years, Elders Quorum President, Bishop, and High Councilman in the Cedar City Utah West Stake. He served with his wife as Stake Extraction Directors for 10 years. He also enjoyed his talent in playing the organ for church services since he was a teenager.
In 2003-2005, he and his wife were called to serve a mission to the Philippines Manila Mission, where they served in the mission office. They enjoyed this experience with the missionaries and the Filipino people in the branches where they served.
He is survived by his wife Sharon and four children, Martell Trevor Olsen, Cedar City; Laurie Leigh (Kevin) Barrett, Cedar City; Troy Lance Olsen (Jolene), St. George; and Lisa Lynne Albright (Ken), Syracuse, Utah. Also survived by nine grandchildren, Brandy, Travis, Alexa, Trent, Kalin, Ashton, Brady, Ethan, and Brinlee. He is also survived by two brothers and a sister: Clair Nash Olsen (Virginia) Brigham City, Utah; Tamara Olsen Evans (Bruce), Overland Park, Kansas; and Michael Frank Olsen (Rebecca) Salt Lake City, Utah.
Visitation with family members will be on Thursday, July 5 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. Also on Friday, July 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Relief Society room at 256 South 900 West, Cedar City, Utah. Funeral services will then be held at 1:00 p.m. in the Cedar City (2nd, 9th, and 17th) Ward chapel. Burial will be at the Cedar City, Utah Cemetery.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, (435) 673-2454. Friends may sign Larry’s guestbook at www.spilsburymortuary.com.
