Sunday, September 06, 2009

funeral

I went to Utah for my Grandpa Larson's funeral.
It was a lot of traveling and I left Eve home with Russ. That was hard.
The funeral was great. It was such a relief for everyone when Grandpa finally passed. He had been so ill. He is now free from pain and suffering.
One of the speakers at the funeral said "We are sad because of the separation." That was the first time I had ever heard that. It really made sense to me. I am not sad because Grandpa died. I am sad because of the temporary separation from him that we now face.
I remember Grandpa telling wacky jokes and using funny puns. One time when my siblings and I went to Antelope Elementary School, he asked if we went to school with Antelopes.
He also asked if we could eat our shoes since they were "jellies."
He loved trains. He once had a room in the basement dedicated to his set up of his model trains.
He panned for gold at Harlequin Lake in Yakutat, Alaska.
He always wore a hat. Not baseball caps, but straw hats or fedora like hats with wide brims.
He loved to garden.
He loved books. I remember him reading a lot of church books and also a lot of history and political books.
He often talked about politics.
He made the best homemade salsa. I have a distinct memory of sitting on one of the swivel stools in the kitchen, watching him make his delicious salsa. He always made some mild and in a separate bowl made some hot. He once gave me the recipe (which he never gave anyone.) He told me that the key ingredient was cilantro. I still remember his insistence that cilantro was key. He even told me that if I couldn't make the home made stuff, then to just add cilantro to any store bought salsa.
He had an amazing voice! I remember one song in particular that sticks in my mind. He sang it with Aunt Cindy. Some of the lyrics go like this...
"The tree of life, it is white, it is light, it is love." I can't remember many of the other lyrics, but he sang it beautifully.
He was a great man. He was a wonderful grandpa and a faithful person.
I am blessed to have known him and look forward to seeing him again someday.

(I will post more photos and videos of my trip soon.)

7 comments:

LanceandNance said...

What a great tribute to your grandpa. Your family is so wonderful. I'm glad we could see you while you were here in Utah. We love you and your awesome crazy family.

Nancy, Lance, and Baby John

Haydee said...

I was going to write What a sweet tribute but I see someone has already said that. Isn't amazing the things we remember!? he sounds like the perfect grandpa. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Aves said...

What a sweet dedication to your grandpa! Grandpa's are the best! What a blessing the Gospel is in all of our lives, especially the gift of eternal families.

{amy k.} said...

It's such a blessing to have the knowledge of the gospel in our lives, isn't it? And I enjoyed reading your memories with your grandpa, he sounds like a very sweet man. I definitely agree with the seperation thing... I hadn't really looked at it that way either, but it makes perfect sense. Sorry for your loss~

tammy stailey said...

He seems like a great grandpa. I am sorry for your loss.

You went to Antelope Elementary? In Clearfield? My younger sibs went there too.

Jen and Alec said...

I so wish I could have been there. I agree, I am not sad for his passing, just for the separation. I am glad he is himself again and able to sing.

Damitz Family said...

You do great posts, Bec. I'm so glad you wrote your memories of Grandpa. I still intend to do that when I can. I love your guts and I'm so glad you were able to come.