Betty June Butler LarsenJust before we left for the beach I got a phone call that my Grandma Larsen had suffered a massive stroke and was no longer with us. It was very unexpected. She was 87 years old, but she was in good health. She had just had cataracts removed from her eyes, so she must have been planning on sticking around for a while. I guess it’s a blessing that she passed so quickly. She was really lonely without Grandpa and now their together.
We got home from Florida on Monday and I flew out to Utah Tuesday and returned home Wednesday. It was definitely a whirlwind trip, but I needed to be there.
As I flew across the country I thought about Grandma and here are a few memories that I wish to record.
-Grandma was always calling us her little ducks. She liked to keep her “ducks in a row”. So much so, in fact, that she numbered us. I was the number 14 grandchild. My Christmas gifts were labeled with a 14. One year they gave us all sweats and a rubber band shooting pistol. We were all very greatfull for the sweats during the huge rubber band fight that followed. Mine was labeled with a 14. It was a great system because when it was time to go there was never a debate over who’s was who’s. We just looked for our number and we were good to go. My cousin Marli (15) and her sisters made all the grandkids numbers to wear at the funeral. She was just missing 2 living grandkids. It made us all remember those that have passed away before. Most notably to me was Jolene (17). She was my age and passed away way too soon, leaving 2 sweet girls behind.
We got home from Florida on Monday and I flew out to Utah Tuesday and returned home Wednesday. It was definitely a whirlwind trip, but I needed to be there.
As I flew across the country I thought about Grandma and here are a few memories that I wish to record.
-Grandma was always calling us her little ducks. She liked to keep her “ducks in a row”. So much so, in fact, that she numbered us. I was the number 14 grandchild. My Christmas gifts were labeled with a 14. One year they gave us all sweats and a rubber band shooting pistol. We were all very greatfull for the sweats during the huge rubber band fight that followed. Mine was labeled with a 14. It was a great system because when it was time to go there was never a debate over who’s was who’s. We just looked for our number and we were good to go. My cousin Marli (15) and her sisters made all the grandkids numbers to wear at the funeral. She was just missing 2 living grandkids. It made us all remember those that have passed away before. Most notably to me was Jolene (17). She was my age and passed away way too soon, leaving 2 sweet girls behind.
Betsy #14 & Marli #15
Betsy #14 & Letitia #16
-Grandma and Grandpa have 48 Grandkids and 106 great-grandkids. Grandma was VERY proud of her posterity. She told anybody who would listen how many kids she has. At her funeral my uncle made the joke that if you over estimated the number of great-grandkids it was no big deal, just stick around for 9 months and you’ll be right on.
-One year I had a gymnastics meet on Halloween. I was sad that I didn’t get to go Trick-or-Treating. So, on the way home my dad took me to Grandma and Grandpa’s to Trick-or-Treat. When I knocked on their door they made such a fuss over me. Grandma felt really bad that I would only get to knock on one door. So she said, “Well, we don’t really like any of those other kids anyway.” And she dumped her whole bowl of candy into my bag.
-Grandma and Grandpa used to rent the elementary school by their house for our family parties. We would play for hours in the gym. We especially loved the turtle scooters. I’m not sure if I ever won a race, but I tried REALLY hard. After a few hours of play we were kicked out so that the men could play basketball. It’s a good thing that most of them are doctor, because I can’t remember a time that someone didn’t end up broken or bloody or at least badly sprained. The pain must have been worth it, because they did it every time.
-Being a “Pickleville cousin” was an anticipated event in every Larsens life. It really felt like the ripe old age of 5 would NEVER get come. “Cousins” was the best. Singing and dancing on stage we felt like we were the stars of the show. Practices were held at Grandmas house and at her church. One year Grandma decided that we should all learn how to clog. So, we met at her house once a week for clogging lessons. The girls were OK with it, but it was a deal breaker for the boys. We sang country, 50’s, and show tunes. Grandma’s feather bed is for sure an all time favorite.
-Grandma had a touch for drama. I’ll never forget when Marli (15) was in a touch and go situation after having a baby. It was really scary. I would get updates from my dad telling me that things were looking up. Then my phone would ring, Grandma would be crying and telling me that my best friend was going to die any minute now. I was so confused I didn’t know who to believe. Turns out that if I take half of what Dad says and half of what Grandma says I have a pretty good picture of the truth. Thankfully in this situation Grandma wrong in her prophesy. Marli pulled through and is happy healthy.
-I’ll miss Grandmas phone calls every time a hurricane is on it’s way.
-Honor Bright, 123, I love you Grandma.
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