Allan Larsen

Who was Allan Larsen?

Allan Franklin Larsen was a Republican politician from eastern Idaho.

Born in Lower Presto, Idaho, he attended Utah Agricultural College and operated a potato farm near Firth in Bingham County. First elected to the state legislature in 1966, he served six terms in the house, the last two as speaker. In 1978, he was the GOP nominee for governor, but was defeated by the Democratic incumbent, John Evans of Malad.

Larsen returned to private life on his farm for a dozen years. Following his wife's death, he returned to the legislature when he was elected to the state senate in 1990 and the house in 1992 and 1994.

Larsen died at age 85 in March 2005; he and his wife Barbara are buried at the Riverside Thomas Cemetery in Blackfoot, Idaho.