In Loving Memory

A Celebration of a Life Well-Lived

Larry Dean Larsen

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Larry D. Larsen, born on October 8, 1943, in Winner, SD to Walter "Pete" and Helen (Petersek) Larsen. He passed away on April 19, 2025, at the age of 81 at the Aurora Brule Nursing Home in White Lake, SD.

He grew up on a farm near Hamill, SD. His farming career started at age 5, when his dad put him on a narrow front-end John Deere Tractor.

He attended school at a country school near Hamill, high school at Chamberlain High School, where he graduated in 1961. He attended one semester at SDSU in Brookings and then had to come home to help with the farm due to his dad's failing health.

He enlisted in the National Guard on September 16,1963 at Chamberlain, SD 200th Engr. Co. for 6 yrs. He went to officer training and became an SGT E5 and was a drill Sergeant instructing bridge building. He was honorably discharged on September 15,1969.

In the spring of 1965, he met his life-long partner-in-crime by calling her from a pay phone to ask her out on a date, until he ran out of money. Elaine K Tyburec and Larry D Larsen were married on June 4, 1966. They moved to the farm northeast of Reliance, SD and would have two daughters, Lori and Leslie and a son, Jon. They farmed, raised Hereford cattle and hogs. They had chickens and milk cows and sold eggs and cream. When they first got started you could trade crates of eggs and cream for groceries.

In 1980 that all changed. Larry had a life-altering injury followed by an after-death experience and several weeks in the Pierre Hospital. All the neighbors chipped in with harvest, sileage, cows, farming, etc. Larry felt he needed to change the farm operation to accommodate his health and strength. He sold all the cattle and changed it over to a winter wheat operation, so that he could go back to college and get his accounting degree.

He moved the family to Rapid City in 1981 at the age of 38. They continued to commute back and forth to the farm at Reliance for the next 13 years. (The Friday night stops at KFC may have left certain family members scarred for life.) He graduated from National College in 1985 with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. After college he went to work for Ketel Thorstenson and Co. in Rapid City. After a couple of years, he opened a part-time office back in Chamberlain for them. Eventually he purchased his client list and opened Larsen Tax and Consulting. He expanded the building and the business several times over the next several years. He loved helping people with their taxes and bookkeeping, often making farm and house calls all over the country.

Various accolades over the years included receiving young outstanding farmer/rancher of Lyman Co in 1978. President of Lyman Co Crop Improvement Assoc. He enjoyed going to Pierre and participating in the legislative process and supporting and presenting different projects over the years. Served the Legion Post in Chamberlain, often helping put out flags and perform color-guard duties. He was a member of the Lake Francis Case Development board and was proud of his time with them.

He enjoyed baseball and softball. He played baseball for the Mallards and later slow-pitch softball in Reliance for many years. He was a die-hard Twins fan! Many evenings spent listening to WNAX radio. He also coached Pony League Baseball in Rapid City during their time there.

He loved gardening and often shared his crop with many, especially his sweet corn. Farming was always his first love. He was the happiest in a green tractor.

He is survived by his wife Elaine K (Tyburec) Larsen of Chamberlain. Sister Lynette (Larsen)(Stemmerman) Riley with husband Sonny of Flora Vista, NM. Four step-brothers Stacy (Debbie) Hieb, Aurora, CO., Joel Hieb, Ft Pierre, SD., David Hieb, Chamberlain, SD, Lowell (Cassidy) Hieb, Chamberlain, SD. Step-sister Pam Palmer of Pukwana, SD. Daughters Lori and husband Todd Engel of Chamberlain. Leslie Larsen and husband Nathan Obr of Scottsdale, AZ and Belleview, WA. Son Jon Larsen and wife Melissa (Jorgenson) of Scottsdale, AZ. Granddaughter Cathy (Engel) Harr with husband Andrew and 2 great-grandsons Brody and Finn of Brandon, SD. Grandson Michael Engel with wife Mashaya (Thompson) and 2 great-granddaughters Ava and Mikaya, Reliance, SD. Grandson Jake Larsen, Colorado Springs, CO.

Preceding him in death. Father Pete Larsen, Mother Helen (Petersek) (Larsen) Hieb. Sister Gail (Larsen)(Meyerink) Danhour (husband was Terry). Step-Father Joseph Hieb. Step-sister in-law Diane Hieb. Special friends Gene Graves and Joey Fott.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, April 28, 2025 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Chamberlain, SD with burial in the Riverview Cemetery at Chamberlain, SD.  Visitation will begin Sunday at 4:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:00 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Chamberlain, SD.