Obituary: Larry Stanley

Larry Carlos Stanley, 77, of Chinook, died of natural causes, Tuesday evening at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home surrounded by loved ones. Funeral services will be Saturday, Jan.. 30, 2016, at 2 p.m. at the American Lutheran Church, with burial at Kuper Memorial Cemetery. A luncheon will immediately follow at the Eagles Club. Arrangements have been made with Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Condolences may be left for the family at http://www.edwardsfuneralhomemt.com.

Larry Stanley was born on Dec. 20, 1938, to William and Gertie Stanley, in Big Pool, Maryland. He was the oldest of nine children and graduated high school in Hancock, Maryland in 1956.  

He then enlisted in the Air Force in February 1962, completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. He then spent time in the Philippines at Clark Field and finally was transferred to the 778 Radar Squadron in Havre where he worked in the communications field operating a teletype relay station. In 1965, he met his wife Connie Skoyen and they were married on Aug. 7, 1966. They had two daughters: Jodi and Jamie.

During this time Larry worked as a parts man for Valley Motor Supply in Havre, Montana, and eventually became manager of the Chinook Carquest store where he worked for 33 years. He was always available to assist any weary traveler with a broken down vehicle; hanging a sign on the door that read "if I'm home, we're open." After retiring he held a couple different part-time jobs and enjoyed working at the Kuper Memorial Cemetery as a grounds keeper.

Larry enjoyed making people smile, whether it was with his quick wit or when he played his guitar. It was not uncommon for Larry to throw out a few one-liners that left people in stitches. Many of these will live on through his nieces, nephews and other family members. One of Larry's passions was music. He spent years playing guitar in many country western bands across the region. He was delighted to play for or with anyone who asked him.  

Another passion of Larry's was his family. Larry and Connie took various trips to Maryland in taking in the sites of the east coast with his brothers and sisters, some destinations included: Washington, D.C., Atlantic City and Myrtle Beach. Larry enjoyed spending weekends at the Skoyen ranch where there was always food, family and fun. When not hanging out at the ranch Larry loved taking his family on various road trips across Montana. Another favorite destination was to visit family in North Dakota and traveling to the Black Hills in South Dakota.  

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bill; and daughter, Jamie. He is survived by his wife, Connie; his daughter, Jodi, and her husband, Ranj Mjolsness of Billings; sisters, Peg Sauerland of West Virginia and Linda Shoemaker (Junior) of West Virginia; brother, Donald (Ginny) of Pennsylvania, Terry (Karen) of Maryland, and Robert of Maryland; and numerous nieces and nephews that he greatly enjoyed.