Mona Lee Larson of Mesa passed away suddenly on May 9, 2022, at the age of 93.
Born January 22, 1929, in Safford, Arizona, Mona was the 4th and last child born to J. David Lee and Ellen Tyler Lee. Her father was a farmer and rancher. Mona had two brothers and one sister and was the youngest by 7 years. She grew up in Thatcher.
She met Ted A Larson, her future husband, on a double-date, but not with each other! The young couple fell in love and were married on August 18, 1947, in the Salt Lake City Temple. They traveled up with their parents because the Mesa Temple was closed for summer break.
Ted and Mona are the proud parents of seven children. She is preceded in death by her husband and their youngest daughter Carol. Mona is survived by children David M. Larson (Jessie M. Whetten), Elizabeth Ann “Penny” Stephenson (Michael B. Stephenson), Ned B. Larson (Julianne Ercanbrack), Glen J. Larson (Kim Peterson), Sidney Bales (Steven Bales), Kay Larson, and 25 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren.
Mona and Ted decided she needed to get a teaching degree to help with their children’s mission and college expenses. She attended Eastern Arizona College and graduated from University of Arizona. She taught at Fort Thomas, Thatcher, and Safford.
After raising their family in Solomon, Ted and Mona moved to Watrous, NM, where they ranched for over 20 years. She had a fabric store in Las Vegas, NM where they also did custom sewing. While living in New Mexico, Ted and Mona served from 1994-1995 in the newly built Denver Colorado Temple. They later served two missions. Their first was in the Spain Las Palmas Mission from 1997-1998. After they moved to Mesa, Ted and Mona were called to serve in the Uruguay Montevideo Mission from 2004-2006. Later they served for many years as ordinance workers in the Mesa Arizona Temple.
Even in her later years, Mona quilted, did alterations for those she loved, sewed for the Needy Newbies, and shared her homemade bread. She was the memorable grandmother to all her bratty grandkids.
Services will be held at 11 am Friday, May 20, in The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2549 N. 32 St., Mesa, AZ, and will also be streamed online. Burial will be held Saturday, May 21, at 3 pm at the Safford Cemetery.
The Zoom link for the funeral on Friday
Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
There will never be another Mona. Our complete love is with your family. We loved her dearly.
We loved living across the street from Ted and Mona. Our sympathy and love goes to the Larsen family.