Billie Marie Larsen

Billie Marie Marchbanks Larsen of Saint George, Utah passed peacefully on October 28, 2026. She was 97 years old.

Billie was born on September 22, 1929 in San Francisco to Isabel Sarah Fowler Marchbanks and Cecil Franklin Marchbanks. As a child she suffered with debilitating asthma that kept her from physical activity and from attending school. Nevertheless she learned to read on her own, and her love of reading lasted her entire long life. She spent a year of childhood in Salt Lake City, where the climate was better for her. For the first time she was able to run, play, and attend school without long absences. This experience gave her a love for Utah that never abated. Eventually her parents moved the family to Southern California, where she lived until her retirement and return to Utah in 1992.

Billie attended Van Nuys High School, Los Angeles City College, and graduated from UCLA in 1952. She taught elementary school for many years. In 1976 she obtained an M.A. from the University of LaVerne and became a reading specialist. She was a skilled educator with a love of learning that she instilled in her students.

She married Keith Buckley Larsen on February 20, 1954 in Van Nuys, California, in her parents’ backyard. She and Keith shared their lives until his death in 2011. The family took a vacation every summer, traveling by station wagon and camping throughout the United States. On one memorable month-long trip Billie and Keith drove the family from Southern California to Upstate New York (and back), on another up the Pacific coast through the Redwoods to Canada. After their children were grown Billie and Keith shared many more adventures, ultimately visiting six continents, one cruise at a time.

Billie was an excellent seamstress, and was proud that she had sewn a beautiful dress worn by two brides—first her sister Elaine, then herself. She continued to sew for the family for many years, creating Easter dresses, Halloween costumes, Hawaiian shirts, and a daughter’s wedding dress, along with many other day-to-day outfits. She was also expert at knitting and crochet.

Billie was a devoted member of the LDS church, and served in many roles including Primary president, Young Women’s president, Sunday School teacher and Relief Society teacher. One of her life’s highlights was in 1964 when her family was sealed to her in the Los Angeles Temple. She enjoyed genealogy and spent many hours researching her family tree. She belonged to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, and was very proud of her heritage.

She is survived by her children, Susan Larsen of El Paso Texas, Kent Larsen (Sandra) of Saint George Utah, and Nancy Clawson (Lance) of Rancho Cucamonga California. She is also survived by grandchildren Christopher Collins-Larsen, Lindsay Aguilar, Nathan Clawson, Emily Larsen, and Scott Clawson, and by sister Elaine Williams and brother Walter Marchbanks. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Keith Larsen and sister Mary Thompson.

A graveside funeral service will be held November 11, 2026, 11:00 a.m. at Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 Workman Mill Road, Whittier CA 90601. Arrangements are under the direction of Hughes Mortuary, 1037 E. 700 S., Saint George, UT 84790. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Reading is Fundamental of Southern California or Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.