Leland Stanford Larsen

Leland Stanford (Stan) Larsen was a thoughtful, considerate person who loved life and took every opportunity to explore many of its unpredictable and exciting challenges. He passed away peacefully on July 9, 2025.

Stan was born the second of three children, and only son of Leland Grice and LeOra Clark Larsen, on March 21, 1939. He grew up in the ideal Sugarhouse neighborhood, where kids played hide-and-seek on warm summer evenings and slept outside in the yards under the bright Milky Way. Visiting his Clark cousins in Georgetown, Idaho at their Springdale Farm was among his favorite memories. He described his father, Judge Larsen, and mother, as loving disciplinarians in the home, and recalled that “Dad was definitely a judge in the home, and I sometimes thought he was going to take out the gavel!” He stayed out of trouble, most of the time.

Stan was proud to be an East High Leopard and was passionate about basketball! He loved his glory days competing on the basketball team, and his stories of all the points he scored seemed to get better and better as the years went by. He continued an active life for decades—waterskiing, snow skiing, golfing, running and walking. His passion for politics was influenced not only by his father’s career but also by his involvement in student government. A’cappella with Miss Bowman continued to be a favorite memory and contributed to his love of music.

Early heartache came for Stan when he was 18 and his father died at age 55 from a heart attack. Stan spoke reverently and often about his father and the positive influence he was on Stan’s life. He attributed his interest and propensity for government to his father’s life work in his capacity as judge and an elected official.

Stan learned to love the people and culture of Asia while serving a 3-year mission to the Southern Far East Mission (Hong Kong) for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He became fluent in both Mandarin and Cantonese, and under the direction of his mission president, he was called to be the Director of the Mission Chinese Language Translation Committee and was assigned the details of translation for the revised Hymn book.

Following his father’s interests, Stan graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. He felt himself fortunate and blessed to have been able to combine classroom experience with on-site exposure relating to his first love of political science.

Soon after graduation, he worked as a marketing specialist for Getz Brothers, an international exporting company representing General Foods, Scott Products, Max Factor, and more. Stan was responsible for all consumer products including the financial, advertising and marketing plans for the Asian import offices. While working for Getz, he was given the opportunity to take a short-term sabbatical to attend an international business management program at Harvard University. His Harvard class ring was one of his prized possessions.

His love for all things political led Stan to run as an Independent candidate for the 2nd District House seat of Utah in the fall of 1980. He knew it was a long shot but felt he accomplished a dedicated issue-oriented campaign and at the time, ran the most successful Independent congressional campaign in Utah political history and secured the respect of both major parties.

Stan loved education, learning and vocabulary. He wanted to interact with students and received a certification as a core instructor with the Salt Lake City School District. He spent ten years working with district administration employees, teachers and students, and considered it a very rewarding time in his professional life.

Living the last 38 years in the Sugarhouse area, he continued to make friends and talked to everyone he could in his apartment building, out on the street or at Sugarhouse park. He was engaging, interested in others and fiercely independent.

One of Stan’s greatest achievements was his care for his mother, LeOra, and we think she lived to be almost 103 because of his dedication to her. He was a wonderful son, and he loved his sisters dearly. We are so happy he is reunited with his family!

Stan is preceded in death by his parents Judge Leland G. and LeOra Clark Larsen, sisters Carolee Larsen Harmon and Janice Larsen Felix and their spouses Robert Harmon and Donald Felix.

Stan is survived by his Harmon nephew and nieces and their posterity, which include David Leland Harmon (Nancy), Christine Harmon Sheffield (Tyler), Pamela Harmon Hansen (Mark), Jill Harmon Zaharias (Andy), and Holly Harmon Webster (Bryan).

A viewing will be held on Thursday, July 17^th, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., with a funeral at 11:00 a.m., at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple St., Salt Lake City, Utah. Burial will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. You may also watch the funeral service recording online through Zoom using the “Watch Service” button above.

Stan’s family is grateful for the kind care given to him by Covington Senior Living of Orem and Renew Hospice, and the dedicated care of his niece Pam during his last several months.