Ramona Larsen

Ramona Larsen, a devoted mother, artist, and community leader in Southern Utah known for decades of public service and resilience, died on December 31, 2024, in St. George, Utah. She was 94.

Born in Beaver, Utah in March 1930, Ramona endured modest circumstances during the Great Depression. The eldest of three, she told stories of hauling water from the well by hand, not having indoor plumbing, and learning very early how to make do with little. She deeply appreciated the comfort and stability afforded to her during her later years.

Her early flair for vocal performance - specifically the lost art of yodeling - led to her own radio show in Cedar City at the age of seven. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt's death interrupted a broadcast, she met the moment with a stirring rendition of "Home on the Range" accompanied by her father on guitar. That performance and her homespun charm led to an invitation to appear on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour (precursor to The Ed Sullivan Show), but Bowes' program was canceled just days before her trip. She later visited the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and stood on the stage of the Ryman Theatre.

She attended Springville High School and Brigham Young University before marrying Merle D. Kensinger Jr. in Cheyenne, WY., where they welcomed a daughter, Marcy. Kensinger, serving in the Air Force, died in a car accident when Marcy was still a toddler. Years later, Ramona married Dean Larsen, a gas station owner and Korean War Army veteran. Together they raised Marcy, and brought Jeffery and Lisa into this world, until Dean's death at 53. She never remarried.

In Bloomington, where she lived for more than 50 years, Ramona held roles in regional government, including Flim Commissioner for Southern Utah and Director for Senior Citizens and Tourism Coordinator for Washington County. She also worked at Auerbach's and Miriam's department stores in Salt Lake City - jobs she recalled fondly. She was always dressed impeccably, unless you caught her in her yard, which she referred to as her gym.

She graduated alongside son Jeffery from Dixie College, which marked the school's first "mom/son" commencement. An avid gardener and a passionate outdoorswoman, she hiked Zion National Park Angels Landing at age 75 and visited Snow Canyon hundreds of times. She was also a prolific artist, completing more than 100 oil paintings, often desert landscapes, including one notably displayed by the St. George Catholic Church. She also volunteered at the St. George Art Museum.

She was preceded in death by her second husband Dean, daughter Marcy and son Jeffery, all who died of various forms of cancer. She is survived by her daughter Lisa Roi Larsen; two grandsons, Samuel and Alexander; three great-grandchildren; a sister Valena and son-in-law Stephen Francis, who was married to Marcy prior to her death.

She reflected that she hoped to be remembered for her unwavering faith - in herself, in loved ones, and God. From a young age, she trusted prayer, and believed healing came through faith and care for the body, often saying "food is my medicine" a conviction she carried throughout her life.

Private family services have been held with Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, UT. Burial in Mountain View Cemetery, Beaver, Utah.

Friends and family are invited to sign Ramona's online guestbook at www.SpilsburyMortuary.com