Born
January 8, 1889
Logan, Utah

Passed Away
January 7, 1978
Champaign, Illinois

Family Prayer: Pres. J.R. Larsen
     Our All-Righteous and Eternal Father, we are gathered here this day as a family, filled
with love and joy and happiness.  How we loved our dear mother, grandmother, great
grandmother, sister.  How she filled our lives with joy and happiness and gave us an
example to live whereby we might have eternal life.  We are grateful for her full life.  We
pray, our dear Heavenly Father, that we might fulfill that desire for which she lived; that
her children might love the Lord, that they might be close to their Father in Heaven, to
walk in His footsteps, to strive to keep His commandments and live their lives in accord
with His will and way.
     Our Father, there is a sadness in our hearts this morning at the loss, but our hearts are
filled with great joy.  We know that mother and daddy are together.  We know that she
has taken LaFay in her arms, that she is with her mother and father, and there is great
rejoicing even as when one comes into this world there is probably sadness on the other
side at leaving them.
     And now as she returns home, welcomed by those who loved and waited so patiently
for her, how grateful, Father, we are for her great spirit.  We pay tribute to her as a great
woman, and may we this morning, Father, re-dedicate ourselves to the love and peace
and the kindness that she brought into the world.  She lived by the creed, where there is
heartroom, there is room for everyone.  
     May we honor her all our lives and teach our children the great heritage that she has
given us.  May we emulate it, may we live by it and may we be worthy to be called her
sons and daughters, to be called her grandchildren.
     Father, we love her with all our hearts, and may we bond together in family unity,
maintaining these sweet principles through our lives.
     Now, Father, we thank Thee for all of the blessings we share at Thy hands and ask
Thy spirit to touch all those who participate this day -- grateful for their love and their
kindness.  These favors we ask, with all humility, Father, and in the name of Thy Son,
Jesus Christ, Amen.

Bishop Zachariah E. Brown:
     My dear brothers and sisters and friends of the Larsen family, we are met this day to
pay our last respects and show our love to the family of Sister Charlotte Anderson
Larsen.  The family has prepared the services.  They just had a beautiful family prayer
given by one of the sons, Joseph R. Larsen, and the opening prayer here will be given by
Brother Milton V. Backman.

Milton V. Backman:
     Our kind Heavenly Father, we have met here this beautiful day on this solemn
occasion to pay our respects and to express our love and sincere thanks to Thee for
having given to us at this period of time such a beautiful spirit as our dear sister Charlotte
Anderson Larsen.  We are particularly grateful at this time, our Heavenly Father, to be in
the presence of Thy Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, President Spencer W. Kimball.  We
ask Thy spirit to direct the affairs of this solemn occasion that they may be
complimentary to this occasion.
     We especially express our thanks, our Heavenly Father, knowing that our dear friend,
Sister Charlotte, has returned to Thy Holy Kingdom to receive her just reward which we
realize will be great.  We are grateful for the life of Charlotte and by her beautiful spirit
we have been richly blessed and we have enjoyed the spirit which she has given.  Her life
has been devoted to the service of others.  She has been at all times helpful and willing to
devote both her service and her life to the help of others.  We ask Thy Spirit to direct this
occasion that those who take part may do so under Thy inspiration and guidance.  We ask
Thy blessings to particularly be with her dear family; with her daughter Berneice, and her
fine sons; Dr. Louis, Dr. John, and Dr. J.R. and families that they may be blessed that
peace may be with them and with all her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
     Of course we are saddened by this occasion, but as the setting sun of eventide sinks
below the horizon so has Charlotte passed from our view.  But because of her sincerity,
because of her help and devotion to others, we realize that her afterglow will be an
inspiration for all of us all the days of our lives and we dedicate these services unto Thee
in the name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Bishop Zachariah E. Brown:
     Sister Charlotte Anderson Larsen was 89.  She passed away January 7, 1978 at her
son's home in Champaign, Illinois.  She was born January 8, 1889 in Logan, Utah to John
H. and Annie Charlotte Anderson.  On November 10, 1909 she was married and sealed
for all eternity to Joseph Reuben Larsen in the Logan, LDS Temple.  Rube, as he was
known to everyone, passed away April 11, 1971.
     Charlotte was an active member of our church having served in the ward Relief
Society, Primary and MIA, the stake Relief Society and Primary, and was a member of
the General Board Relief Society for 11 years.  She served as a member of the state
Public Safety Commission for 5 years.  She was active in Ladies Literary Club and
culture clubs and many other church and community assignments and activities.
     She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Phil (Berneice) Robbins, Salt Lake; three sons: Dr.
John A. Larsen, Salt Lake; Dr. Louis C. Larsen, St. George; and Dr. Joseph R. Larsen,
Champaign, Illinois; two brothers: Joseph Anderson from Logan and Merrill D.
Anderson, Salt Lake, and two sisters: Mrs. S. Clyne (Marie) Curtis from Logan, Mrs.
George (Luella) Hickman, Berkeley, California, with 22 grandchildren and 40 great
grandchildren.  What a beautiful posterity.
     She was friend to all who knew her.  I am grateful that Sister Brown and I were able
to know them and live in the same ward with them for a few years in the Yalecrest Ward
and then the last few years to live in the same building in the Graystone as Charlotte. 
Rube and I were in the same high priest group in the Yalecrest Ward for about 13 years. 
We were grateful to be neighbors of theirs.  Just a thought:  The harvest of old age is
memory and rich store of blessings laid up in earlier life.  Charlotte has many, many of
these.
     The family would like me to thank all of you for your presence, your kindness' of any
kind (flowers, cards), those on the program and anybody who is participating or helping
the family in any way.  The program will proceed as outlined in the leaflet that was
handed out.  Sister Marion Brown who played the prelude and who will later play the
postlude.  The pallbearers are grandsons Peter Robbins, Michael Robbins, Craig Larsen,
David Larsen, Dennis Larsen, and Brent Larsen and the honorary pallbearers are also
grandsons.  Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery.  There will next be a vocal
duet by Phil Robbins and Teresa Larsen "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life", accompanied by
Beverly Skordas.  Then there will be a tribute given by Suzanne Robbins Kennedy, a
musical selection, a quartet of Teresa Larsen, Colleen Hunsaker, Leslie Shupe, and
Mildred Garrett, "Oh My Father",  accompanied by Beverly Skordas.  We will then hear
from President John A. Larsen and then we are privileged this day to hear from our
beloved President Spencer W. Kimball.  The benediction will be given by President Boyd
Bott and the dedication of the grave in Logan will be by Dr. Louis C. Larsen.  We will
now proceed with the service.

MUSIC - "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life"

Suzanne Robbins Kennedy:
     My dear brothers and sisters,  Our loss is heaven's gain.  I would not have you weep
when I am gone.  Nor say we should have done it thus and so.  I shall have risen to a
fairer dawn than you have ever seen and I shall know too much peace to countenance
regret.  Too much joy to watch your sorrow spread.  I only ask that you will not forget. 
Love me when you get your call of death.  What does a woman do to raise up a posterity
of good, faithful, even outstanding children and grandchildren.  Grandma dear, sweet
grandma.  Grandma's house, a haven of peace and love.
     Grandma's teachings.  How many of us remember her little things such as " a job
worth doing is worth doing well."  Or, "pay attention to the corners and the rest will take
care of itself."  Her brilliant, inquiring mind.  Always searching for new truths. 
Grandma's darling sense of humor never failed to end.  Grandma.  Her love of God, home
and family.  Her unwavering path in living the gospel to its fullest.  Her life, a perfect
example for us to follow.  But most and foremost was grandma's undying, unquestioning,
unshakable faith in us.  Her love was so perfect that she inspired each of us to do our very
best.  Grandma's high regard for us inspired high regard for ourselves.  She had total
interest in each one of us.  Our mind, our affairs.  Grandma had such complete love and
faith in us.  She honestly could not see anything but the very best in each one of us.  And
thus she helped us to acknowledge and strive toward our individual perfection.  How
could we let such faith and love down ?  When you are told from birth that you are the
very best, you can't help but think it's true.  Then conduct yourself that way.  Yes,
grandma was many things.  She was a devoted servant.  Ready to hear our problems and
share her great wisdom with us.  Anxious to give us her richer comforts with her
beautiful home and her excellent cooking.  You didn't walk in her door that you didn't
have to eat something.  She was there to take care of us in time of need.  Many of us went
to her with our first baby to learn the arts of being a mother.  But when all of her
marvelous strengths are weighed in the balance, the most precious heritage that she has
willed to us is her love, undying in our own self image.  How presumptuous we mortals
are, pronouncing one another dead because the eyes are closed, the lips are stilled, there
is no motion in our death.  A man once came to clear our definition.  He knew all words,
all places, all states of being, for he had traveled below all things and above.  Death, he
said, is darkness with hate.  And life, he said, is light, is love, or hope uplifting.  A vital
sign burns bright and gives this word.  She loved.  She loved.  She yet will love.  And
love pronounces that she will live.

MUSIC - "Oh My Father," - sung by quartet

John A. Larsen:
     And we know that's where our mother is.  Dwelling with our Heavenly Father.  The
morning she died, my brother heard her talk to her Father in Heaven.  The last words she
said, "Please let me come home now." And she rolled over and she died.  We know
where she is.
     For the past 25 of the last 30 years I was a guide on Temple Square.  And for most of
that time my tour was early Saturday morning.  As I would complete my tour I would
stop by my mother's and have breakfast with her.  What choice, wonderful sweet hours
those were.  Most of the time she would make me Swedish hot cakes.  She probably
helped contribute to my size.  But in those years I would help mother pay her bills,
balance her checkbook, do some shopping for her and then we would visit.  Frequently
we would talk about the gospel.  But I was never there but she was excited about telling
me of some great accomplishment of one of the grandchildren or my brothers or my
sister.  One day when we were sitting there talking, she thought a lot about wanting to be
with daddy.  She kind of planned her own funeral.  One day I said, "Mom, nobody knows
you well enough to talk at your funeral; I will have to do it."  And she picked that up. 
That's the reason I am here today.  I hope I can do it.
     Mom was such a beautiful, wonderful spirit.  We know where she is and we know
how happy she is.  We know how happy dad is today because daddy loved mother.  This
spray of flowers is over here and says "Dearie" on it.  That was daddy's pet name for
mother.  And that is there because daddy arranged for that to be at her funeral before he
passed away.  I know the joy in mother's heart of being with LaFay, and her own mother
and father and my dear father.  So today though the Larsen's have a pain in their heart,
mother being gone, there is joy.  You won't find a lot of tears.  We will be lonely, but
mother will live with us because mother was such a great soul.  Mother taught us so
many things.  Part of the respect we have for mother is because of the love our father had
for mother.  Dad would never, ever, tolerate anyone speaking unkindly of mother or
being harsh with her or even talking back.  Once when I was very young I learned that -
the hard way.  In my youth, mother had told me something I thought I had a different
opinion about.  And I expressed it.  My father (And I towered over him.  I'm the biggest
of the family; my six foot six, 200 pounds plus.  I could have picked him up and held him
out here.), he took off his house slipper and he walked up to me and with every word he
emphasized - NEVER, will you talk that way to your mother.  And I never did again and I
am ashamed that I did it that time.  But because dad had such great love for mother, I am
sure we continued in our lives to respect mother and love her.  And as our lives went
along, she continued to teach us.  Suzanne referred to one of mother's little teachings
when she said she always taught us, "You clean in the corner, the middle will always take
care of itself."  It was more than just telling us those things.  One day after I had finished
cleaning the kitchen and scrubbing the floor and everything, mother said, "Did you do it
good ?"  "Sure I did, I always do it good, mom."  "Well, let's go see."  So she went in 3 or
4 corners and picked up a quarter that she had put there and it was still there.  Well you
know, that's the only time I didn't get in the corners.  She had a special little way of
teaching us things.  Mother was the old-fashioned kind of mother (bless her), and we love
her for it.  If ever any one of us got arguing or a little out of sorts with one another, we
had to sit in the corner on a chair and think about it a long time.  I didn't do too many
tours of duty.  We soon learned.  And mother wouldn't tolerate using bad language.  I
guess every youngster once in awhile lets a word get into his vocabulary.  And then we
learn.  One time I was out playing when a little boy driving along scratched me with his
tricycle and I guess I let him know what I thought.  And mother heard me.  I spent the
next several hours trying to get that cayenne pepper out of my mouth.  I think my sister
said she swallowed a piece of soap that mother was using for her.
     We learned.  But you know throughout this church all of her sons have had the
privilege of serving in capacities as Bishops and High Council and Stake Presidency. 
Some of mother's teachings have gone abroad in the land.  Mother used to say to me,
"Son, never do anything except what you would be proud if your mother was standing
right there watching you."  You know if you are ever tempted with those thoughts ringing
in your ears, you won't do anything wrong.  I used to tell that to the young men in my
interviews.  Many of them have come back and told me how it stayed with them.  Mom
was my friend.  As big as I am, my little brothers, in our younger years, were a little
afraid to enter into very heavy physical activity with me.  One Christmas I got a set of
boxing gloves.  And they wouldn't box with me.  But my mom did.  She had long arms. 
In my youth and exuberance I guess I must have hit her a little hard.  Pow!  Right on the
top of the head.  She got me.  But she was my friend.  I share these things so you know
that mother was just precious.  We loved her dearly and do today.  Mother often said
when I asked her what she thought her greatest achievement was in life.  My mother was
constantly trying to improve her mind.  Reading good books.  She joined organizations
where they studied.  She said my greatest accomplishment in life is my family -  my sons
and my daughters.  She loved us.  She always encouraged us.  I am sure all three of us
achieved whatever achievement there is in getting that Dr. before your name because of
mother and her encouragement.  I know when President Smith pinned J.R.'s eagle on him
(and he literally pinned it on him right to the hide) was awarded to J.R. and mother
together because without mother, J.R. would never have achieved it.
     My dear brothers and sister, I am so proud of them.  J.R., the stake president; Lou,
having been a Bishop and on a High Council; my dear sister, raising a wonderful family. 
Let me tell you how grateful we three brothers are to our dear sister and Phil.  For the last
two years, much of the time, mother has not been well, Berneice took her into her home. 
Berneice became a mother to a mother.  We are so grateful for her tender loving care. 
There was never anything mother needed. but Berneice gave her.
     Mother was loved by people wherever she went in this church.  For 11 years on the
General Board she traveled widely.  And in the last few days I was going through some
boxes and letters.  I want to take time to tell you just one or two.  I don't know where
mother ever met a little Samoan sister.  But in this letter this dear Samoan sister thanked
mother from the bottom of her heart for sending her the money to buy material to make a
dress so she could go to church.  None of us knew this.  These were sacred to mother and
she kept them to herself.  A beautiful tribute was paid to my mother by Sister Spafford
when she was released from the Board.  Let me take time to share one paragraph of that
with you.  "Sister Larsen's 11 years of service have been marked by a devotion and
determination to fulfill to the full every assignment given her regardless of her personal
interests or needs.  In this she has been an example to us all.  Meticulously groomed,
beautifully dressed, thoroughly prepared, she has come forth and met sisters in the stakes
throughout the world with poise and helpfulness.  She has made our life rich and special
with her special contributions."  There are other things she said, but mother was loved by
everybody.  Most of all mother loved her family, her dear husband, my two brothers and
my sister, and my sister that went before.
     One of mother's greater poems is one that I hope I can read.  It's short, and I hope we
can all live up to that which she felt about us.  That we will be worthy to be with her.  For
we know God lives.  We know this Church is true and we believe it.  We strive all the
days of our lives to be worthy to be with our dear parents.  Mother used to read this to us. 
I think it kind of helped inspire us to be better.  It is called "Sons."  (As I say sons I have
to include my dear sister.)

SONS

To press my lips upon a fair cheek or brow of my young sons
So long I have stooped down
But suddenly to my surprise
I find that I must lift my eyes
To meet their eyes
That I must stand on toetips and reach up
To kiss their lips
These tall young sons
Each straight as any pine
Can they be mine ?
Soon I must share them
Soon I know that they will go
But, oh, I am so glad
That I have had small sons to stoop to
Tall sons to reach to
Clean sons to give
That other sons might live

God bless all of you great people for your kindness, love and consideration
and know that we love our mother and while we shall miss her we are happy
this day that she is where she is.  I leave my witness, I know where mother is.
She is with our Father in Heaven in His Kingdom, with her own father and
mother and her daughter.  I leave my witness and blessing in the name of
Jesus Christ.  Amen.

President Spencer W. Kimball:

Beloved.  Brothers and Sisters.  What a day to meet together in this
holy time.  To call to our attention the beauties and to the glories of a
woman of this nature.  For long years we have belonged to a temple group
to which Rube and Charlotte belonged.  Every month we saw them.  The group
went to the temple to perform the ordinances there and then returned to the
home of one of the group.  There we had some refreshments, dinner or something
and enjoyed discoursing further about the temple, about our experiences there
and the glorious time.  I came to love Rube Larsen and this sweet woman,
his wife.  It was a real joy to look forward every month in going to this
gathering and meeting with these good people.  I remember the funeral of
brother Rube and it was a joy.
I have enjoyed the remarks of her beloved son today and the prayer
of another of her sons.  I thought that was a beautiful prayer.  What else
could you pray for and what more could you talk for than this son who loved
his mother so much.  We Latter Day Saints are in a glorious situation where
we understand the mysteries of heaven.  The trio sang it so beautifully at
the beginning of the ceremony as did the quartet who sang "Oh, My Father."
Ah, sweet mysteries of heaven.  The mystery is not mystery to you and me
because we know what will happen to people.  We know that death is not death
in the ordinary sense.  We know that Charlotte hasn't looked upon it as the
end of things and of time..  We know positively that the gospel is continuous
and life is continuous.  When I think of these 20 some odd grandchildren,
smaller family and then a large posterity of great grandchildren.  I think
I can hear Charlotte say "I am not dead.  I never will die.  I will always
live because I have this wonderful posterity that will continue to bear my
name and will represent their Heavenly Father as I have taught them to."  So
I think she would say to us "My dear loved ones.  I am not dead.  Yes, my
body lies here in the casket.  But I am not dead.  My sight is better than it
has ever been.  My hearing is excellent.  I hear the slightest sound.  I
feel the whisperings of the spirit of the Lord with me.  I am not gone.  I
am just changed.  I have changed the atmosphere, the time, the place, the
conditions and the people."  But knowing the gospel she would also say that
ail of you will some day come.  Years roll on and this we call death overtakes
everybody.  For even as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive.
So life goes on.  And it is beautiful.
     I have heard many people speak of death.  A cousin of mine said Death
is a beautiful thing.  Why do people resist it when it is so beautiful that
it offers such a privilege for eternity.  Yesterday I talked to a new widow.
A woman who had recently put away her husband in the grave.  Of course it
was sad, and of course it was sad, and of course it was more or less final
in a sense.  But she said the days that his body laid in the casket in the
mortuary, and in the home, there wasn't a minute there wasn't someone there.
I could believe that because I believe that the loved ones who have already
gone into the eternal world do return for their loved ones.  I believe that
husbands return to get their wives and wives for their husbands; mothers for
their children and fathers for their children.  I believe that and I have
seen it in the words of many of the brethren in the years gone by.  I believed
this woman yesterday when she said "There wasn't any evidence, any mortal
evidence, but there was such a sweet spirit for the hours that he lay in
state, such a sweet spirit that I just felt there was someone close to him
and to us through those hours."
I don't know why we should think of death as we do and be so fearful  
of it.  Of course we don't want to deprive ourselves or those who are near
and dear to us.  We are very sad when they leave us.  But we must realize that
knowing that the gospel is divine and it is eternal and it is continuous
then we must know it is just a change in environment, a change of conditions.
This good man and good wife who have passed away will 'always be together.
They, have been to the temple many times.  They have taken care of that very
important element of a husband being sealed to a wife in this mortal existence.
That .is the thing they should do.  The Lord made it very clear to us in the
days gone by.  There are many people in the world who go on spending their
money, spending their time and spending their lives and rather laugh it off.
They say It doesn't matter too much.  The Lord knows what is in my heart.
I remember once when our friends in the land where we used to live.
She had a very fine husband.  He was a community builder, a good man.  He
didn't do anything that was wrong that I knew of.  He passed away some time
before she did.  We had the temerity to mention to her that it would be
wonderful if they were just sealed for eternity.  They did not belong to the
church.  She quickly said "Oh, we are going to be together always.  We are
sure we will always be together.  We always decided that."  Just as though
what one person decides would be the life that they would live.  The Lord
has said what is done in this life, for eternity just will not happen.  If
there is anybody that thinks they can control eternity as well as mortality,
they better be doing some real serious thinking.  Because the hours pass, the
days, months and years. Eventually there is separation of husband and wife
and it is just not continuous unless it has been made continuous by the
ordinances which the Lord has prepared for us in this life.
If only we could get the people of the world to understand this.  If
we could only get this clear to the people.  If we who know it could be more
careful about passing it on to be sure that the people we love here in this
life could understand that important thing.  That when they pass away (and
are in the position of Charlotte today, lying in the tomb), their power,
making money, earning money, changing lives -- passes considerably.  They
need the powers which the Lord can give to them through his authorities while
they are still living.
The quartet that sang "Oh, my Father" -- that is a song it seems to me
one could hardly go through a funeral service without having it sung.  For
my father's funeral, my mother's, all the brothers and sisters that I have
(and that was. many) we have had that song sung by someone who had a beautiful
voice and could properly interpret the beauties of it.  It seems to me to be
wonderful for almost every funeral that could be sung or said.  I remember
the 3rd verse "I have learned to call Thee Father through Thy Spirit from on
high.  But until the key of knowledge is restored, I do not know why I called
You Father." He didn't have any relationship to me.  I didn't have any father

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