Idella Borup Larson

Logan, Utah Idella B. LarsonLogan - Idella Borup Larson, 89, of Logan, Utah passed away Monday, October 27, 2008 in Preston, Idaho. She was born August 24, 1919 in Emmett, Idaho to William Thomas and Essie Idella Lee Borup. She was raised in Emmett and graduated from Emmett High School. The third of seven children, Idella was known for her sweet and loving personality and her creativity. She was a talented seamstress and dreamed of going to New York City to become a fashion designer after graduation. Instead, she met Keith Parkinson Larson in a moment she described as "love at first sight." The two were married and sealed for time and all eternity on August 21, 1942 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Keith served in the US Navy and the couple spent their first several years of marriage moving around the country, finally settling in Preston. Idella filled her life with church and community service. She served in the Stake Young Women Presidency, the Relief Society presidency, the Primary and the PTA. She had a close-knit group of friends and was one of the original members of the Pickwick Club.Idella had a love of words and writing. She earned her master's degree in English from Utah State University and attended Stanford to work on her doctorate. She taught English at USU until she was 65 and continued teaching as a emeritus faculty for five years after that. She was given rave reviews by her students, and was known for her humor and her tough love for USU athletes. Keith died in 1971 of cancer, after which moved to Logan. After her retirement, she served an LDS family History mission in San Diego, CA. She had an adventurous spirit and traveled throughout Europe, China, Israel, Egypt, India and Nepal. She was a wonderful writer and story-teller, and often wrote about the places she visited. In her later years she lived in Preston and then moved to the Pioneer Valley Lodge in North Logan where she was often described as "the life of the party."Idella's strong faith and testimony sustained her throughout her trials and were a strength to many others. She was generous, wise, loving, and humble. Perhaps her best-known trait was her sense of humor - the combination of her quick wit and indomitable optimism was the perfect insurance against bad days.She is survived by her children John (Laura) Larson, of Chicago, IL; Craig (Margaret) Larson, of Salt Lake City, UT; Kristen (Scott) Beckstead, of Preston; 15 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and siblings, Bill Borup, Byron (Margaret) Borup, Keith (Gladys) Borup, and Rex (Sharon) Borup. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Keith, a sister Melba Pope, and a brother LeRoy Borup.Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 12:00 noon in the Preston 1st Ward chapel 213 South 200 East in Preston, with Bishop Brent Dodge conducting. Friends may call Saturday from 10-11:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Logan Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Webb Funeral Home in Preston. Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at www.webbmortuary.comIdella was dearly loved and will be missed. Happy face in the morning, Gram.