Michael Dean Larsen

Viewing Prior LDS Chapel 59 S 100 W, Parowan, UT 84761
Friday Jul 25, 2025: 12:00 PM - 1:45 PM
Funeral Service LDS Chapel 59 S 100 W, Parowan, UT 84761
Friday Jul 25, 2025: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Celebration of Life Taylorsville South Stake Center – Outdoor Bowery 3495 West 4850 South, Taylorsville, Utah
Monday Jul 28, 2025: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Michael Dean Larsen passed away on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, at his home in Sandy, Utah, from complications related to cerebral palsy.
He was preceded in death by his mom, Linda Larsen. It has been said he went to join his mom for her birthday, which was on July 17th.
Michael was born in San Rafael, CA, on September 20th, 1968.
At age 9, he met and was adopted by his forever family, his parents, Ronald and Linda Larsen and his siblings: Donnette (Glade) Tew, Tresa (Kent) Larson, LeAnn (Jim) Haws, Scott (Dawn) Larsen, Renel (Tony) Sobel, Chad (Heather) Larsen Mossinger, Devin (Melissa) Larsen, and Kenneth (Abigail) Larsen.
As a kid, Michael loved to walk. He would regularly walk different routes in his hometown of Parowan, Utah, where he made many friends with those along his walking route.
As a young man, he won many medals racing in the Special Olympics before the effects of his palsy eventually put him in a wheelchair.
Although Michael couldn't do many things that kids his age could do, he was given unique opportunities such as going up in a hot air balloon and a helicopter.
After graduating from Cedar High School, Mike moved to Salt Lake City and into a group home.
He didn't let being in a wheelchair stop him from enjoying life. He was able to work different jobs.
He worked in the movie theater at the old Crossroads Mall as a ticket taker and also worked in a hotel, helping with housekeeping duties such as vacuuming and dusting.
Mike loved to travel and was able to go to Hawaii, Disneyland, and recently went on a cruise with his family where he even got to swim in the ocean.
Mike had an amazing memory. He could spell almost anything, read the phone book, memorize everyone's phone number, and could even tell you the license plate numbers of cars and motorcycles from his childhood.
Mike also had a huge love for motorcycles. He was always thrilled to ride them, see them, or collect small toy motorcycles.
He was an avid Utah Jazz basketball fan and often had the opportunity to attend Jazz games, where he met the Jazz Bear and Karl Malone.
When he wasn't there in person, Mike enjoyed watching the games with his group of friends from his group home.
It was Mike's wish that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to help others enjoy basketball.
His first wish was that any monetary donations would go toward making it possible for his special friends from his group home to attend a Jazz game in person.
He also asked that people donate basketballs.
New basketballs may be brought to his funeral service or celebration of life.
All basketballs received will be donated to Utah Youth Village and the Bradley Center for grieving children in Mike's honor.
Mike was a fighter and was very determined. In the last months of his life, he was told by doctors that he would most likely die in the hospital. He was determined to go home and he did just that.
The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at the University Hospital, the staff at his home TKJ, and the hospice nurses from CNS.
Funeral Service for Michael
Friday, July 25th
LDS Chapel
59 S 100 W, Parowan, UT 84761
Viewing: 12:00–1:45 PM
Funeral: 2:00 PM
Interment: Parowan Cemetery
Celebration of Life
Monday, July 28th, 6:00–8:00 PM
Taylorsville South Stake Center – Outdoor Bowery
3495 West 4850 South, Taylorsville, Utah
Donations may be made via Venmo: @friendsof_mike