Irene Larson

Irene Alice Semadeni Larson passed away on August 27, 2025, in Layton, Utah following a brief illness. She was born October 13, 1936, in Cedar Point, San Juan County, Utah to Aldeberto Lorenzo Matteo Semadeni and Margarita Compagnoni, who had immigrated to the United States from Switzerland. She graduated from Monticello High School in 1954 and Brigham Young University with a major in Home Economics Education and a minor in English in 1958. She taught English and Home Economics at Crete-Monee High School and Hubbard Trail Junior High. While at BYU, she met Alan William Larson, and they were married in the Manti Utah Temple on 19 December 1958. Alan’s employment took them to Chicago and then to Minneapolis, where they spent 48 years raising their family. Following Alan’s passing in 2011, Irene relocated back to southern Utah, living in Washington. She spent the final year of her life at Fairfield Village in Layton, and the family is grateful for the good care they took of Irene. Irene was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and enjoyed serving in many different callings, including Relief Society and Young Women President, ordinance worker in the St. Paul Minnesota and St. George Utah temples, and full-time senior missionary with Alan in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission. Irene was a life-long learner who loved literature and read broadly. Later in life she earned a master’s degree in English from the University of Minnesota, writing a thesis on the poetry of Edmund Spenser. Irene created beauty wherever she was. She always looked her best and acted with poise and grace. She loved flower gardening, listening to classical music, making cookies for grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and hosting events in her home. She was proud of her Swiss heritage and kept in touch with her Swiss cousins, visiting several times. Irene is survived by her five daughters and sons-in-law: Roxanne & Delon Williams (Bountiful, Utah), Valerie & Earle Anderson (Orangevale, California), Vivianne & Kerry Schoenecke (Farmington, Minnesota), Adele & William Winkleman (San Diego, California), and Margo & Clifford Blair (Kaysville, Utah); 17 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Dahlia Dutson (Lehi, Utah) and brother and sister-in-law Lorenzo & Virginia Semadeni (Highland, Utah). She was preceded in death by her husband, Alan; and her siblings William Semadeni, Oscar Semadeni, Margaret Fury, Emily Garchar, and Dora Sorenson. A viewing will be held in Utah on Sunday, September 7th from 5 to 7 pm at the Serenity Funeral Home, 13863 S 2700 W, Bluffdale, UT 84065. The funeral will be at the Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapel, 5000 West 50th & Highway 100, Edina, Minnesota 55436 on Friday, September 26th at 10:30 am. A viewing will be held beforehand at 9:30 am. Internment in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Please share memories and condolences at www.serenityfhs.com or https://www.washburn-mcreavy.com.

Irene Larson

October 13, 1936 - August 27, 2025