Steve Larsen, (1960 - 2022) - ForeverMissed.com Online Memorials

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62 years old
Born on October 28, 1960 in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Passed away on December 10, 2022 in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, United States

This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Steve Larsen- wicked smart, maker of a mean martini and teller of long tales- lost his fight with cancer on December 10, 2022 at the age of 62. He was with his best friend and wife Shawnna Black in their home in Colorado.

Steve was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 28, 1960. He earned a bachelor's degree in Forestry from Utah State University in 1985. A former business owner and licensed electrician and estimator he spent the last six years at Primoris Renewable Energy where he was a Director and Senior Estimator. At Primoris, Steve was a treasured colleague and friend, a team-builder who found great joy in working with the people, the company, and the industry. He was known for his novel ideas and for mentoring others. His passion was sharing his knowledge and guiding people to be their best.

The essence of Steve was the outdoors, time spent hunting and fishing and appreciating good friends with a good beer and a good pair of boots. Working summers through college fighting forest fires with the Forest Service was where he would meet some of his closest friends that he had through the rest of his life. Annual bow and rifle hunting trips, backpacking trips to fish the Wind Rivers in Wyoming, and long-range boat fishing trips from San Diego to Mexico are what gave him great joy and life. He lived a life of no regrets. Steve was truly a Renaissance Man. Not only did he bring home the "wild game" but he loved the art of charcuterie and fermentation. From salami, braciola and corned meats to kimchi and sauerkraut. All his friends and neighbors will miss his culinary experiments.

Steve is survived by his best friend and wife, Shawnna Black; mother, Jan Larsen Sorensen; sisters, Kelly Larsen and Janalyan Schab; Gordan Ryder the son of Karen and Stephan Ryder and numerous extended family members.
In lieu of flowers choose a food bank in your local or global community to donate time or money.

A celebration of Steve's life will take place at a later time.

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May 19, 2023

Steve had a few places that are core to his life blood. He wanted me to make sure that part of him found his way back to those same places. San Quintin Mexico is one of those places.
Steve with his good buddies Charlie and Mike would drive from San Diego, where Mike lives, to a little house that they rented. The house belonged to the panga boat guide Fernando, who would become a friend that Steve would also look forward to spending time.
The first of May 2023 Steve with his San Quintin brothers, Charle, Mike and Fernando took him to the sea which he loved and gave him life. A good beer, good people, the good seas and knowing that you are experiencing what makes you solid in life; Steve was the grand master of knowingness.
Smooth sailing my friend and love~

December 16, 2022

Best brother anyone could ask for! We grew up in a world without tv remotes and door dash but that didn’t stop Steve… I mean what are sisters for anyway?? We (Steve, Janalyn and I) would stay up super late and then get up super early on Christmas whiling away the time to see what Santa brought by playing multiple games of Sorry! Long talks about his various girlfriends, Fish Lake in the summer hiking over to the Shepherd’s rock tower, shooting BB guns at the dump in Salina, racing sticks down the gutters… so many memories of wonderful times with our cousins! I can’t say enough about Steve… If you knew him at all then you are blessed!!! We will miss him every day!

December 17, 2022

Steve Larsen had a second family at Primoris Renewable Energy (PRE). He was loved by so many he worked with or had mentored. Many consider Steve their friend and greatest mentor in their life. It is only fitting all his family and friends know the positive impact he had on so many people, and how he made them feel. Here is a message sent to all employees inside the company on December 12, 2022:

We are saddened to share that our dear friend and colleague Steve Larsen passed away over the weekend after a courageous battle with cancer the last several years. Steve was a selfless man that many of us measured ourselves against when it came to being humble, noble, genuine, thoughtful and courageous. His loss in all of our lives and careers is immeasurable. We wonder why such a genuine heart of a man could not heal, recover, or find a breakthrough (and he tried them all!) to keep him with us longer so we could learn from him. Steve was larger than life and of great significance to the growth and mentoring of the people who wanted to listen to his ideas or learn from him. Over the course of the last several years, there are many individuals who have benefited from Steve Larsen’s mentorship. This was his greatest passion: sharing, helping, guiding and developing people.

Having joined Primoris in November 2017, Steve was one of our pioneers through the earlier growth stages and scaling up of the company. As the Senior Estimator, Steve was the leader (along with the engineering team) behind winning the 500mw Roadrunner project in 2018/2019. Steve had novel ideas that no other competitor or person in the industry had ever thought of. He was very proud of this accomplishment and this project became the standard the company and others would follow. The successful completion of that project inspired him to continue fighting the disease he knew he had, so he could continue making a difference in people’s lives and within the company.

Instead of hiring very experienced estimators, Steve always took the tougher route on hiring talent. He hired individuals with limited experience, but with the burning desire to learn the trade. He invested countless hours explaining and describing how to estimate a solar project or how to think differently. Being that Steve grew up in the electrical trade as an Electrician, there was no one that was going to outsmart him on ideas, means and methods. In 2019, Steve was promoted to Director of Estimating as the company started to see growth. This allowed him even more time dedicated to developing people and his team to become better professionals.

Over the last 18 months, Steve was a very tough, dedicated and loyal man. He would often take his treatments and be back on the phone or in a meeting. While he was often very sick from the disease and treatment, Steve would be available to help or offer guidance. He never quit taking calls or being part of making someone else’s life richer. Steve brought calmness, friendship and professionalism to everyone.

As passionate as Steve was about his work, he also pursued a balance with nature and the outdoors. He loved to take time off hunting and fishing at every opportunity and enjoyed that time with friends made over his career. He always looked forward to his annual trips to recharge and refresh.

Primoris Renewable Energy will be developing a Steve Larsen Memorial Award shaped around his attributes described above. This will be given out on December 10th each year. We will provide more details on this at a later time. Steve’s family will be having a celebration of his life sometime after the holidays when it is fitting for the company and his friends to attend. His wife (Shawna Black) would like the company to know that Steve loved the people, loved the company, and loved the industry we all get to work in. He was forever grateful to work with such fine people and professionals at PRE.

If you wish to send memories, flowers, or cards to Steve’s wife and family, please reach out to the HR Department and they will be happy to share the family’s address information with you.

Please keep Steve and his family in your thoughts and prayers. We will miss him dearly.

May 18, 2023

My heart is so filled with love for Steven, my wonderful perfect son. My heart is also broken. Not enough words to express what a joy and honor it has been to be his mother. I love him so much. Thank you son, for being you.

May 18, 2023

Time has passed since we all lost Mr. Larsen, but his memory and imprint on the people inside the Primoris Renewable organization has not been lost. I continue to here Steve's name being used in meetings, conversations and stories. People still talk about our friend and colleague...what they learned, his teachings, a genuine human being he was, or the imprint he had on ours or their lives. They miss his conversation, calls, and friendship. I know I do.
Often times, we think of our friends as those outside of work. That's not necessarily the case. Living a legacy caring for others should be a fundamental attribute we all carry. It is important the family continues to know the imprint that Steve left on many of his work family and friends. We look forward to celebrating and telling the stories someday. There will be laughter, and of course sadness...… for the fact we do not get the daily interaction with him in our lives.

January 22, 2023

I met Steve when he joined Primoris a couple months after me back in 2017. I remember being floored by his intellect and immense knowledge of Solar, Estimating, Engineering, Construction, etc. – you name it, he knew it. I recall thinking to myself “when this guy speaks, I am going to listen” and listen I did, for years…

Whether Steve knew it or not, he took on a father figure role in my life after l lost my Dad in his own battle with cancer in November of 2017. I found myself staying late at the office many nights just talking to him…sometimes about work, sometimes about hunting, and other nights just to enjoy his company.

Steve and I never talked openly about his battle, probably because we didn’t need to. Despite the toll his treatments took on him, he continued to come into the office to do what he loved: to teach, to mentor, and to empower…not to be reminded of the long fight he had ahead of him. I respected that, and was in awe of not only his strength, but his loyalty to our company and its people.

I credit Steve for much of my own success. I will be forever thankful for the time he took for me; only now do I realize how finite and precious that time was for him. My condolences to his dear wife Shawnna whom he spoke of often and to the family and friends he leaves behind. Rest in peace my friend.

January 6, 2023

Oh, Stevie Stevie Bo Bevie! Steeeeevie! I'm sending much love and light to you and your family. Your smile, your stories, your passion for life, food, and cocktails, and your drive to continually look for ways to make people and processes better are legendary. You will be deeply missed, friend.

January 4, 2023

I am not good at goodbye, especially like this, and I will always miss my friend.

January 3, 2023

Steve was the best teacher and mentor I have ever worked with. He was the one who hired Divy and me while he knew we had no solar experience and taught everything he could to help us to become a good estimator and a better human being. There was lot to learn from him. For me, he was the Wikipedia where I can find all the answers to my questions.

I still remember our white board sessions, late night teaching sessions, and our conversations about his fishing experiences.

My words are not enough to explain how great he was.

December 27, 2022

I only knew Steve Larsen at work. However, he was greatly respected, by myself as well. He respected me equally which was a good thing to have from a person of his experience and maturity, as well as his knowledge of his work. He was always patient and in good spirits. He will be missed dearly.

December 24, 2022

I met Steve on Thanksgiving 1987 when Kent and Gail brought him over. He was traveling through Denver delivering aquarium rocks. Kent and I would meet up with Steve in Utah the following summer and go fishing and it was then we started to form a friendship that would last until he left us. He would eventually move to Denver to start his aquarium business with Tom. The three of us would were always going on outdoor trips. I would take Steve and Tom flyfishing and they introduced me to waterfowl hunting. We would go to these legendary places like the Roaring Fork, Spinney Reservoir, the Green River, the San Juan, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Flaming Gorge and the Beaverhead. We would go to Alaska on a float trip where both the fishing and crappy weather were memorable. We continued to hunt waterfowl and started going pheasant hunting to South Dakota as well as antelope hunting in Colorado and Wyoming. Steve and I along with Kentar and others would make an annual backpack trip to the Wind River Range. When Steve met this special lady Shawnna, we continued our friendship going on trips to Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, Cabo and Puerto Vallarta. Also trips to California's wine country and Oregon as well as camping trips, concerts, spring training baseball in Arizona and ski trips to Steamboat. I would intoduce Steve to saltwater fishing and we went on 8 to 12 day trips with Mike Toetter and others. We started going on shorter trips to Baja's Sea of Cortez and San Quintin with Mike Goodsell. Our last trip was in February this year. I can't say enough about what Steve meant to me and how I will miss him. He was so courageous through his battle with cancer, never once complaining but I could see his struggle. He will be forever in our hearts and memories and will never be forgotten. I look forward to Steve's celebration of life where we can share stories and reminisce about the great times we had. Rest in peace my brother.

December 21, 2022

I will be forever grateful for the impact Steve has on my life. He was an amazing teacher and a great mentor.
We will miss you Steve

December 20, 2022

A couple of years ago, I was stuck in a job I didn't like, and was trying to get into solar. I was able to get an interview with Primoris and Steve. Even though I had no experience in the industry, Steve took a chance on me. Then over the next two years, I learned as much from him as I could. He was one of the smartest people I ever worked with and was more than willing to pass that knowledge on. Over the last week I have still found myself wishing I should call him and get his advice. Steve changed my life for the better and for that I will forever be grateful for him.

December 20, 2022

We have lived next door to Steve and Shawnna for more than 20 years now. It's not hyperbole to say that they are the best neighbors to grace the planet. Steve has always been generous with the spoils of the hunt and many incredible meals have been had at their place. In fact, the best thing I have ever eaten was yellowtail collar that Steve grilled. And it made him very happy to see others enjoy the food he caught and cooked.
Steve was host to all the information you could ever need. He loved to tell stories, but you had to know going in that it was not going to be the short version. Sometimes my focus would wander and then I'd realize he just got to an incredible turn in the story, slowly but surely.
When he was first going through Chemo treatments he liked to be in the sun, sometimes with several coats on, but he just wanted to feel the rays. One time I looked over and he was laying on the ground and I got worried. No need, he just decided if we was out in the sunshine he could continue his long fought battle with grape hyacinths. Laying the the sun and fighting the fight--digging up those bulbs and tossing them.

December 18, 2022

I met Steve sometime after I moved to CO around 1988 - it was probably in a bar with some friends of friends. I had a condo and he would stay with me when he was in town from his travels to St George. He was selling decorative aquarium rocks to the pet stores then. Steve never desired fatherhood but never-the-less Gordon was born 2-20-93. Unfortunately it was a bad birth and Gordon has severe CP - otherwise I think he would have hunted down his share of wildlife and been indoctrinated into holding his own around a campfire. Over the years there were a number of young ladies who wanted Steve to fall in love with them - but he always talked about his first love from his 20s. I remember how happy he sounded when Shawna unexpectedly showed up at Steve's aquarium buisness. I think their souls were drawn back together. It's a great love story that should have gone on until they were very old.

December 17, 2022

Steve was a great brother in law. He always treated me with the upmost respect. I have many fond memories hunting with him. I can never drive by Kanosh, Utah without remembering sleeping in the car, slaying so many doves that we ran out of shells and had to go buy more. The bond that he had with his mother and sisters is one of the strongest I have ever seen. He loved his nieces and nephews and they loved him. Shawna was the love of his life and my heart aches for you. Happy Hunting my friend

December 17, 2022

Steve and I knew each other since 2013 when we worked together at Quanta Power Generation. I still remember those days and evenings when we sit down together and brain storm the ideas about the designs and cheaper ways of building solar PV projects. I left quanta in June 2017 in the fear of company's condition but Steve remained there but he told me that without you, not sure if the company will survive long and I found out that in October 2017, company made announcement of permanent office closure.
On November 15th 2018, Steve texted me and asked me if I am available for a lunch and I say why not as that was the time when we were meeting each other in person after I left Quanta. He convinced me to join PRE on that lunch and I joined PRE in January 2019. After joining PRE, we had great time together to figure out some great ideas that we will still use at PRE and hope to continue with that. I will tell one thing that I had a great friend and Mentor who will be missed forever. He always brought some interesting vegetarian dishes that he fermented specially for me which I never forget as I gave him my honest opinion (sometimes good and sometimes bad) and he said that he will try even better next time so I can like it and ask for more... Miss you Steve....... No words for me to tell anything to anyone....Long live friendship...

December 17, 2022

I met Steve at Utah State University. We met at a seminar for forest fire fighters and that summer worked on the Wasatch Hotshot crew. We quickly became friends and spent much of our free time hiking and fishing in the Uintas. I could tell dozens (if not hundreds) of "Steve" stories. It's hard to pinpoint a favorite one, but this one is close to the top.

During the late '80s/early '90s, A core group of us (Steve, Shawnna, Mark, Yudi, Gail, Kent, and others) would go skiing together at Targhee in December just before the peak season began. Rates were cheaper and we didn't have the Christmas crowd to deal with. We'd stay at the resort, ski during the day, and party at night. Hot tubbing was a nightly event. If other guests were using "our" hot tub, Steve would climb in and obnoxiously tell rock stories until they left. (It usually didn't take long.) Then, we could sit in the hot tub, eat snacks, drink, and gator in the snow (belly flop like an alligator) to cool down. Then, jump back in the hot tub to do it all over again. We were all younger then and had the stamina to party hard and do it all again the next day.

One of those years, Steve was selling rocks or building aquariums and flew into Idaho Falls for the ski trip. Because of scheduling issues, he had to stay in Idaho Falls an extra day while the rest of us drove home. Mark and Yudi graciously put him up for the night and Steve entertained their 3 little boys.

As I said, we were all younger then. Steve had long, wavy, brown hair and a full beard. The next morning, one of the boys asked Mark and Yudi if Steve was Jesus? (He definitely looked the part.) They explained that he was just a friend and not Jesus.

Steve told me the story with his understated "heh-heh" laugh. Years later, I was retelling the story to a mutual friend and accidentally combined Steve and Jesus as "Stevus." He's always been Stevus to us since then.

December 16, 2022

I can’t believe this day has come. Knowing it was coming hasn’t made it any easier. Steve and I met in forestry summer camp at Utah State. I remember becoming instant friends and we only grew closer over the years. I have so many memories. The college days are kind of blurry but I’ll always remember sitting in the Hub in the UC drinking coffee and taking turns answering essay questions for Forest Economics. I remember road tripping with Steve when he had his business selling aquarium supplies; only Steve could make living selling rocks. I remember skiing and being colder than I have ever been on that same trip, getting kicked off the mountain at closing time, barely being able to ski off the hill and then going to see Matt “Guitar” Murphy play at a local bar. We had some pretty awesome trips to Steamboat skiing and soaking in strawberry hot spring. I remember hiking into broad head lake and catching Brook Trout. We shared forest firefighting stories and all that went along with being on a fire crew. There are too many more, so many I could probably fill this page.
I’ll miss his stories, I’ll miss his parental advice, I’ll miss skiing, fishing and just hanging out with him. He was so much fun to be around.
I know that friends and friendships were important to Steve. He loved being around and doing things with the people he cared about. I feel very lucky to have been one of his friends.
Farewell my bother.

December 16, 2022

Steve has left but the memories of him will live on. We spent a lot of time together fishing, traveling, eating, drinking, and conversing. He was a great friend to share these experiences with. He was generous, thankful, easy going, dependable, and without complaint, even during the rough times when he was obviously struggling. Charlie and I will find him irreplaceable as a fishing partner and friend but thankful for knowing him.

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Steve and San Quintin Mexico

May 19, 2023

Steve had a few places that are core to his life blood. He wanted me to make sure that part of him found his way back to those same places.
San Quintin Mexico is one of those places.
Steve with his good buddies Charlie and Mike would drive from San Diego, where Mike lives, to a little house that they rented. The house belonged to the panga boat guide Fernando, who would become a friend that Steve would also look forward to spending time.
The first of May 2023 Steve with his San Quintin brothers, Charle, Mike and Fernando took him to the sea which he loved and gave him life. A good beer, good people, the good seas and knowing that you are experiencing what makes you solid in life; Steve was the grand master of knowingness.
Smooth sailing my friend and love~

Dancing with grief

January 23, 2023

"Grief defines us. The daily, hourly losses, revisions, reversals. What we do with it can be cathartic, healthy, artistic, murderous, but we have to do something with it. I find most people run away from it; redefine it; shove it like dust into a corner. Go mad with grief if you must, but dance with it; make a friend of it. Grief will be the companion by your side all your life. Life is the dealing with it."
Harold Pinter

My friend Karan sent me this passage and Art work a few weeks ago,I’ve been dancing with my grief every since. Wish I was dancing with Steve but so glad I have so many memories to dance with.
I miss you.

Early Renaissance Man

January 6, 2023

Here is an excerpt from a letter Stevus wrote to Kent and Gail Nelson in 1986:

Business News: I've been given the distribution rights to the State of Nevada for copolymers. Me personally. Going down Thursday to meet with the top horticultural officials in Las Vegas. A big luncheon at the Tropicana. Pretty heady stuff. I've got to come across as a nationally renowned expert on copolymers. If I do, there's going to be a feature writer there and I could get big press. I've sold two loads of compost so far. Trying to find ways to speed up sales.

I'm working on becoming the Urban Forestry Consultant to the City of St. George. Also, I found the source of the eucalypts and I'm starting a plantation in the end of March. True Forestry for big bucks. Growing eucalypt branches for the floral industry.

Also, I'm negotiating the purchase of 10 acres to start my own botanical garden/nursery. Still questionable. Talk to you soon, Steve

Note that Stevus was the eternal entrepreneur. For instance, copolymer crystals are a weakly-bound crystal that readily absorbs water to expand to several times its dry volume. Stevus asked me to develop a self-watering flowerpot containing a water reservoir sleeve using passive controls based on copolymer crystals. His theory was that a node of crystals connected to the watering tube would expand enough to squeeze the tube and halt water flow. Once the soil in the pot dried out enough, the crystals would shrink and allow water into the soil. Depending on how close or far from the tube end the crystal controller was, the soil would be moister or drier. Unfortunately, the copolymer crystals couldn't generate enough force to close the tube completely enough. Oh well. Lots of other ideas to explore.

In another venture, Stevus was interested in raising Sea Monkeys (hybridized brine shrimp.) I'm fuzzy on the details. He either won or bought or was thinking of buying some coastal ground in Mexico (???) to raise the brine shrimp. The eggs would be separated, dried, packaged, and sold to saltwater aquarium owners. The eggs hatch soon after coming in contact with saltwater. The shrimp would then be a cheap and entertaining way to feed the fish. I can't remember the outcome of that idea.

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