Larry Willard

Larry A. Willard, 77, of Waubay, passed away Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Strand Kjorsvig Community Rest Home in Roslyn.

Funeral services will be 10:30am Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Ortley Free Lutheran Church in Ortley. Interment will be at the Lakewood Cemetery near Waubay.

Visitation will be 5-7pm Wednesday at the funeral home closing with a 7pm prayer service.

Larry Allen Willard was born on May 21, 1948 to Lawrence and Shirley (Lorenson) Willard at Webster South Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed in Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Waubay. He attended country grade school district 206 and went on to graduate from Waubay High School in 1966. After graduation, on September 11, 1966 he joined the US Air Force. Larry completed his basic training in Texas and was assigned to a military police security unit. On Easter Sunday, 1968, he was deployed to Vietnam. Larry was given top-secret clearance and tasked with guarding B52 bombers in Vietnam. After returning to the United States, Larry once had the honor of guarding Air Force One for President Richard Nixon. On September 11,1970 he was honorably discharged with the rank of Sgt.

After faithfully serving his country, he joined his parents in Seattle, Washington where he worked at a federal courthouse until 1973. He then returned to Waubay and worked hauling gravel. In 1976, Larry moved to Fargo and in 1977 he graduated from East Grand Forks Area Vocational Technical Institute with a degree in Occupational Proficiency in truck driving. Larry then purchased his own truck and was self-employed as an over the road trucker for the next 25 years. In those 25 years, Larry traveled in every state, as well as Canada, and Mexico making many friends along the way. He eventually returned to Waubay and continued to make Waubay his home until the present time. He was often gone several weeks at a time, and we never knew when he was coming home, but it was always good to see his truck parked by his house. After his retirement, he was able to enjoy spending time with family and friends, something he had missed all the years he had been on the road.

Larry was a proud member of the NRA, American Legion, and Ortley free Lutheran Church. He enjoyed watching sports on TV including NASCAR, Minnesota Twins, LA Dodgers, and the Green Bay Packers. Larry was an avid reader. His favorite subject was American history, the Civil War and World War I in particular. There was very little he didn't know about either one.

Larry passed away January 3, 2026 at Roslyn South Dakota at the age of 77 years, 7 months, and 13 days. He will be sadly missed by his brother David Willard of Elbow Lake, Minnesota, sister, Sandy Hinze of Waubay, South Dakota, nieces and nephews; Dan and Witney Willard, Megan and Chad Bergen, Misti Hinze and Steve Carlson, Darin and Jennifer Hinze, 21 great nieces and nephews and nine great great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Shirley Willard, sister-in-law, Judy Willard, brother-in-law, Eddie Hinze, nephew Miles Hinze, niece Karla Hinze, and great-great nephew Azariah Hinze.