Paul Gene Larsen

Some remember him as the curator of the San Miguel Community Garden, with his cowboy hat and grin. Others may remember the faithful home teacher, concerned friend, and loving neighbor. Others will remember him as a seasoned stagehand. His children and family remember him as the lover of mountains, wilderness, and horses. Paul Gene Larsen, 79, of Las Vegas, Nevada, died at home at 12:45 am on November 5, 2023.

Paul was born in Lyman, Wyoming on April 3, 1944 to Gladys and Ervin Larsen. He was born on their farm. He was surrounded by family who farmed nearby farms like the Jarmans who remained dear friends all his life. He was the fourth of 6 kids and was always close with his brothers and sister. They remember him swinging from cottonwood tree to cottonwood tree as a child or riding out into the badlands on his horse. He traded Grandpa’s best milk cow for his first horse, and after Grandpa disciplined him for that, Grandpa bought him a saddle. Paul used his new horse that summer to ride cattle on a round up. He never lost his love of horses or wild country.

He graduated Valedictorian of his class from Lyman High School. As an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints he accepted a call to serve a mission in the Southwest Indian Mission. He spent most of his time in North and South Dakota which were part of this mission, serving the Lakota Sioux, Shoshone, and Crow peoples.

He attended Brigham Young University graduating with a bachelor’s in social work that he never used. At BYU he fell in love with the theater and participated in a variety of shows including Pirates of Penzance. While working with BYU’s Opera Workshop as a theater tech, he met and fell in love with Lea Waddell. They were married August 23, 1967 in the Salt Lake Temple by Spencer W. Kimball, whom he met and worked with on his mission.

Though he enjoyed being on stage, he fell in love with the backstage and technical parts of the theater. He began working as a professional stagehand and worked on everything from the Technical Director of BYU’s stages to the Capitol Theater in SLC to the Osmond’s Studio to many Casino theaters on the Strip including Circus Circus. Though he stepped away from fulltime theater work from time to time, he never stopped working concerts or the ice follies or the circus when it came into town. His children have sweet memories of seeing Ballet West’s version of the Nutcracker every year, even if it was from the sound box at the back of the theater.

Theater was only one of Paul’s loves, he also loved the wilderness. He and Lea made a deal that if he called her on a Friday, she would have everything ready to go camping by the time he got home from work. His children learned to love mountains, wilderness, and wild places as he took them camping, backpacking, and hiking from a very young age. Paul also loved to climb. He would take the kids to a rock fall just east of the Provo Utah Temple in Rock Canyon and climb the rocks. He never lost his love of horses, so whenever the family could get back to the farm, he would saddle up the horses and ride out into the Badlands.

After Paul retired he did community theater as often as he could. He and Lea also took joy in serving in the Las Vegas Temple for many years as ordinance workers. In 2013 he and Lea were part of the team who created the San Miguel Community Garden. It was a labor of love for him and he spent his final active years planning, planting, maintaining, caring for the chickens, and setting up for events.

Paul Gene Larsen was preceded in death by his brother Wayne Ervin Larsen, his father Ervin Erastus Larsen, and his mother Gladys Butler Larsen and is survived by his siblings Maurine Larsen Williams (Spouse–Dwayne A Williams), John Reid Larsen (Spouse–Linda), Larry James Larsen (Spouse–Kristie) and Louis Butler Larsen (Spouse–Carol). He is also survived by his wife Lea Margaret Waddell Larsen and his children Karalee Larsen Pugmire (Spouse–Merrill Clark Pugmire), Cody Joseph Larsen (Spouse–Julie), Margene Larsen Barrett (Spouse–Justin Spencer Barrett), and Paul Christian Larsen (called Lars) (Spouse–Cristi). He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held November 11, 2023 at 5160 W. Lone Mountain Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89130. The viewing will be from 9:30 to 10:30am. Private family viewing with family prayer will be from 10:30 to 10:55. The funeral will be held at 11:00. The graveside service will be held following the funeral at Palm Mortuary on N. Jones: 6701 N. Jones Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89131.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmnorthwest.com for the Larsen family.