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Desiree Cooper-Larsen
1959 - 2021
BORN
1959
DIED
2021
FUNERAL HOME
Desiree Cooper-Larsen Obituary
On Sunday, February 28, 2021 we lost our beloved Desiree to complications of COVID-19. She was a passionate teacher, leader, mentor, advocate and friend. Her life was devoted to Kurt, family, community, and education.
Desiree was born in Provo, Utah on October 1,1959, she grew up on the family farm in Lehi, Utah. She had a happy childhood riding horses and was the shining light of her family. She was a Lehi Cheerleader and qualified for the National High School Rodeo Finals in barrel racing. She danced her way on stage to win Miss Lehi and won the title of Miss Rodeo Lehi. She went on to become Miss Rodeo Utah in 1979. She won the coveted speech award at Miss Rodeo America. Des was known for her sense of style, strong determined spirit, and larger than life presence.
Desiree earned her master's and bachelor's degree from Utah State University in Marketing/Education. She went on to be a Professor of Professional Sales at Weber State University (WSU). She was presented the Utah Association of Marketing Educators Teacher of the Year Award twice. Desiree shared her expertise with thousands of students during her 36 years as a professor. She provided customer service and sales training to national and local Fortune 500 companies. Desiree was instrumental in starting the Alan E. Hall Center for Sales Excellence at WSU.
Desiree found the love of her life Kurt Larsen and stole his heart and has been living life to the fullest with him for the last 26 years. They were married on November 30, 1994 and sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple, on May 20, 1998. They loved traveling the world with many good friends. They cruised the country on Kurt's Harley and enjoyed adventures four wheeling in the mountains and desert lands. They treasured the memories they made in Bear Lake and St George with family and friends.
Des was the heart and soul of the Ogden Pioneer Days Celebration. She worked endlessly to build a world class PRCA Hall of Fame Rodeo. She will be remembered for bringing the distinguished honor of being selected as a Top 5 PRCA Rodeo of the Year for 13 years. Des is the one and only woman to chair the celebration in its 87 year history. Desiree is the President of the Miss Rodeo Utah Executive Board as well as a member of the Miss Rodeo America Foundation Board. She was a driving force and could make anything happen.
We will dearly miss her cheerful laugh, seeing her bright smile, and caring presence. The heavens will be more beautiful because she is there. We love you to the moon and back. Desiree will forever be the Queen of our hearts and of the rodeo.
Desiree is survived by her husband Kurt Larsen, Siblings: Gary Alan Cooper, Candace Johnston. Kurt's Siblings: Kari-Jo Larsen Whitelock (Jim), Shauna Larsen, Kory Larsen (Karen), Brad Larsen (Angie) and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents: Gary L. Cooper (Hi-Noon) and Bonnie Jean Cooper, Brother: Cameron Cooper, Kurt's parents: Darwin M. Larsen and Karen L. Larsen,
The viewing will be held on Thursday, March 4th, 6:00-8:00p.m., at the
Ben Lomond LDS Church (3350 N. 1050 E. North Ogden, UT 84414). The funeral will be held on Friday, March 5th, 11:00a.m., at the Ben Lomond Stake Center (3550 N. 650 E. North Ogden, UT 84414) There will also be an additional viewing from 9:30-10:30a.m before the funeral. The interment will take place at the Ben Lomond Cemetery (526 E. 2850 N. North Ogden, UT 84414) following the funeral.
The funeral services will be live streamed on the bottom of Desiree's obituary page at 11:00 a.m. at www.Myers-mortuary.com
In Lieu of flowers please donate to the Desiree Cooper-Larsen Professional Sales Scholarship Endowment at Weber State University. Donate here: advancement.weber.edu/Desiree
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Desiree Cooper-Larsen
Sponsored by Myers Mortuary & Cremation Services - Ogden.
Kim Nielson
March 30, 2021
My dear friend Des,
Back in the days while living in Provo and attending BYU, I will never forget seeing you for the very first time at the University Mall in Orem selling clothes. Your beauty and sweetness poured from every pore of your body. And after getting to know you throughout the years when you where teaching at Orem, I could see your devotion to your teaching. I wasn’t surprised that you became the woman you did. Congratulations on all your accomplishments and I’m still in SCHOCK of this horrible news
The heavens have another VERY BEAUTIFUL AND SPECIAL ANGEL now.
Love you my friend,
Kim
Dr.Cheryl Lewis
March 13, 2021
I am so saddened by this news. Desiree was one of my professors at Weber State and I shall always remember her. Rest In Peace
Norman Hall
March 7, 2021
Desiree was the most caring person I have ever known She was very likeable and was always helping others. I served with her on the Rodeo Committee for several years and was always working to improve the Ogden Rodeo. She will be missed and everyone always spoke highly of her. My condolences to the family. Norman Hall
March 5, 2021
What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful lady. The two of you made such a spectacular team. Love you both.
Linda Halverson
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Robby Johnston
March 4, 2021
Most people go through life in relative obscurity, reasonably satisfied with what life gives them. Others require that life becomes what they want it to be and through their own effort; determination and personal achievement mold it into their own specific and personal masterpiece. It is these people who are the real impact players in the game we know as life.
Desiree was without a doubt an impact player in every single season of her life and because of that, she was one of the true and few winners when the final whistle blew.
I met Des in 1977 when my roommate and I were sequestered from our apartment to get her old beat-up sports car running on a cold winter morning in Orem Utah so she could go to her college class.
I learned that day that people really did exist who could actually sell ice to an Eskimo, because in essence that is what she did through her perseverance; determination and salesmanship in convincing us that the world would in fact end in flames, if we did not get that car started. Little did I know then the impact she would ultimately have on my life.
That acquaintance led to a friendship and that friendship led to an introduction to her older sister Candace which led to a marriage; five kids and a paradise of my own because of the family that one introduction produced.
Throughout the ensuing thirty plus years I found myself sequestered many times in assisting Des with various projects from college papers to fashion show commentary and specially commissioned queen speeches. She was an inspiration to my daughters and the example of what they could become as strong, independent women themselves.
Thank you, Des, for everything. For the impact you had on all the lives you touched. For the determination and perseverance to achieve what you wanted your life to be. Thank you for the inspiration you were not only to my daughters but every man´s daughter who you influenced through your career both in the world of rodeo and as a professional educator.
Thank you, Des, for having an old beat-up sports car with a dead battery. But most of all, thank you, for being an impact player in my life too and especially for that introduction.
Rest In Peace
Forever,
Robby A. Johnston
Vicki Strickland
March 4, 2021
Oh Des, how I’m going to miss you so much...Such great childhood friends and memories... We went through a lot together. Lots of fun & so many memories...Oh how I love you, and your family... High School Rodeoing together & Cheerleading.... One New Year’s Eve party we shouldn’t of had with (boys, ) little did we know your parents came home early. We were throwing boys out right & left...It wasn’t funny then, but it sure is now...I remember your Dad-riding down the hill when the snow was deep with us at your place on sleds, his legs high up in the air as if he was on a bucking horse & laughing all the way down....got his name so right...High Noon...Sunday evenings, your Mother baked the best chocolate chip cookies!!! I knew when you talked about Kurt, he was the one, by the sparkle in your eyes and the love you had for him....I will cherish all of the time and the memories we spent together. Everyone is right when they say how special you made everyone feel, and so excited to see each and everyone one of them.Love you Beautiful Lady..til we meet again....Vicki Strickland ❤
Bill, Julie and Crew....
March 3, 2021
We Martindale's, all be it many now, all were touched by this crazy, funny, try anything once soul and spirit. All of us saw that side more often then most folks. For all of us the reality of your absence will take some time. Rest is now yours, peace becomes you.
Jeff Street
March 3, 2021
Des, this world will not be the same place without you in it. You truly leave an unfillable void. I will treasure our friendship forever and always remember how your smile made me feel. Life is unfair; you left way too soon.
Until we meet again- Cheers to a great friend!
Roger Mooney
March 3, 2021
The world is a poorer place without Desiree ! She was beautiful inside and out . She delivered light wherever she stood - she was nothing short of a magnificent force of nature ... In life ,real success is not about money or land or worldly possessions- real success is leaving the world in better shape than you found it ! Desiree was a success story !! Everything she touched she made amazing , everywhere she traveled she made brighter,every picture of life that she painted was a work of art ! Desiree left us too soon but with her tireless resolve and her charitable heart she delivered to the world “ a life well lived “..... she was kind to me and my family and I have been blessed and honored to call Desiree and Kurt my friends . Rest with the lord my lovely friend as I vow to never forget you- to always remember your unwavering loyalty - and to believe that Dez gave the full measure to make our world a better place ! She was successful ... I will always love Desiree Cooper-Larsen /Her Rodeo Announcer ~ Roger Mooney
Rick Moore
March 3, 2021
Des and I were best friends the entire time when at USU and were only 1 day apart in age, my bday 10-2-1959. I served a LDS mission after graduating from USU and we talked of being married before when I got back from Sweden. I am so happy that her arthritis pain is now healed. I prayed on 2-4-2021 that she would be healed and sent her a text telling her of that, and 24 days later she was healed.
She will always be loved❣
Sincerely, Rick Moore
Amberlynn (Zolik) Whiting
March 3, 2021
Her beauty resonated from in the inside out! She had the ability to make EVERY person she talked to feel special. Her confidence and ability to recognize other people’s strengths even if they had not yet realized them was her gift. She walked tall, confident, beautiful and lit up any room with her presence. I wanted to be just like her. I love you Desiree. Thank you for teaching me and inspiring me to do great things.
Nancy whitney
March 2, 2021
What a beautiful amazing gorgeous lady you were Desi! I loved you and your family to the moon. Give my kids and loved ones a love for me in heaven. How i loved you always. Love Nancy- up the road. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Chana Duffin
March 2, 2021
We are so saddened to hear about the loss of Des. We are so grateful that we were able to attend one of the rodeos that she had put on. She gave to so many during her life. Sending all our love, Jeff and Chana Duffin
Jacquelyn Smith
March 2, 2021
Mike Rowley
March 2, 2021
When I knew Des, she was a person who seemed excited to see me every time we got together. That smile could light a rodeo arena all by itself. I watched Kurt stand back a let Des shine at all times. I could see he was in as much awe of her as the rest of us. In short, she was one of the most amazing people I have every known. I miss your hugs, Des!
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