John L. Larsen

John Larsen married Sarah Ann Markham June 6, 1900 in the Salt Lake Temple, Utah. John was an engineer on steam locomotives. They went to live in Salt Lake City because it was more accessible to his work.

Ann and John were the parents of nine children: Christie Ann Larsen, born 22 April 1901; Thora Larsen, born 8 Jan. 1903; Both Christie and Thora were born in Spanish Fork. The rest of the children were born in Salt Lake City. Myrtle Donna Larsen, born 29 January 1905; Gertrude Larsen, born 16 November 1906; John Carlos Larsen, born 25 March 1908; Zola Larsen, born 30 November 1909; Glen Larsen, born 17 March 1912; Lucille Larsen, born 8 June 1915; Harold Cecil Larsen, born 15 June 1918; Harold is the only living child. Ann was not well after Harold's birth, so he was taken care of for the first few years by some of the older girls in the family.

John was away a lot on his job. In the summers, Ann took the younger children, Lucille and Harold and spent the summers where John was. He worked in places like, Soldier Summit, Helper, Pueblo, Grand Junction, and Salida.

In 1929, John had a stroke while walking uptown in Salt Lake City, and he was arrested for drunkenness. His tongue was swollen and he could not speak. It was later suspected that he may have been mugged, because his wallet was missing, but there was no way of knowing. He left the house at 7 pm. and it was 3 am. before he was located.

The period from 1929 until 1934 was very difficult for the family, because of John's illness. John was never able to be reinstated for road service, but he did have a passenger run after he regained his health. Some of the older children were probably able to be of some help in keeping the family afloat.

After John recovered, he was called on a mission for the church in California. He went alone, but had some problem filling that mission and so Ann went and joined him there to be of assistance. Together, they completed his three year mission. During these years, Gertrude, Lucille and Harold were the only children at home, and Harold was just entering the University.

Christie Married Joseph G. Smith in 1923, and Gertrude was married in 1924. Both were married in Utah. Thora married Armit Miller in March 1925 in San Francisco. She later divorced and married Glen Goddard in 1946. Donna married Harold G. Hulse who passed away in 1947 and she remarried Anton Boss in 1949. Zola married Leland T Ford in 1928. Glen married Bernice Stone in 1935. John Carlos married Ellen Driver in 1936. Ann and John went to the wedding in San Francisco. Ellen says that the family always called Ann, Sarah. In 1937, when Ann and John were on their mission, John Carlos and Thora went to visit their parents in Modesto, California.

Donna had a beauty shop in her home in Salt Lake City. She was very close to her mother and often did her mother's hair.

In September 1939 John L, and Ann, and some other members of the family were on their way to Vernal to attend a funeral. The car went out of control on a soft shoulder and rolled over. John L. lost an ear and Ann was killed. Gertrude sewed the clothing for her mother's burial. Without Ann, the family broke up within a month. Gertrude, Lucille, and Harold moved into an apartment, John L. sold the house and later remarried and moved to Murray.

Since Ann died on Labor Day, and most of the family heard the news during holiday celebrations, and because she seemed snatched away before her time, it was a great shock to all of her loving family.

-Jensen Family Genealogy