Mar. 15, 1930 - May 2, 2014
Date of Service: May 10, 2014
John Max Larson
March 15, 1930 - May 2, 2014
John Max Larson peacefully passed away on Friday, May 2, 2014, with his family close by his side at St. Luke’s Magic Valley Regional Medical Center at the age of 84, from complications of Parkinson’s illness. A dedicated and loving husband, father, and grandfather, Max will be fondly remembered for his warm smile, lively sense of humor, hardworking nature, and steadfast commitment to his family.
Max was born in Burley, Idaho, on March 15, 1930, to parents, Frank Arnold and Lucille Price Larson and attended school there. He was an avid basketball and football player for the Burley Bobcats. Upon graduation, he enrolled in Albion State Normal School and later Brigham Young University, where he studied political science. He married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Craner, in June of 1951. They had nearly 63 truly wonderful years together.
In October of 1951, he joined the United States Navy and served in various stations on the east coast as a boatman’s mate. While there, he and Marilyn enjoyed site seeing adventures in the big cities and the eastern seaboard. After two years of service and having received the medal for good conduct, they returned to Burley and daughters, Susan and Patricia were born.
Max farmed west of Burley for 21 years where he and his father-in-law “broke” sage brush ground to grow potatoes and other row crops and to additionally raise prized Hereford cattle as the farm grew to include the XL Hereford Ranch. What a beautiful place it was with a view of the Snake River to the north and Mt. Harrison to the south.
The Burley ranch was sold in 1978 and Max and Marilyn moved to Lake Havasu City, Ariz., for their next venture. They built Havasu’s first automatic car wash which continues to be in business today. Max worked as a real estate agent during that time until they returned to Burley in 1990 to retire. With their accomplished farming skills, they continued to enjoy working the ground, spending much time landscaping and creating a colorful flower garden at their Burley home. They loved taking road trips to the Oregon coast and fishing the beautiful Idaho waters.
For the past three and one-half years, Max and Marilyn have resided in the Hagerman Valley to be closer to family and enjoy the valley climate.
Max was a member of the LDS Church and the Elks Lodge No.1384.
Max was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Arnold Larson of Denver, Colo.; and two infant granddaughters, Marilyn Julia and Claire Louise.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; two daughters, Susan (Roger) Laughlin of Hagerman and Patricia Wright of Boise; seven grandchildren, Shayne, Dillon, Anna, Katie, Angela, Whitney, and Billy; seven great-grandchildren; and his sister, Marie Wood Redder of Burley.
A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, with Roger Laughlin officiating.
The family suggests memorials be directed to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777; 1-800-708-7644; michaeljfox.org
