F.L. 'Larry' Larkin, 74
F.L. "Larry" Larkin, 74, of Noxon, Mont., left his home on Jan. 14, 2006, to be with his maker.
Services are planned for Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006, at 3 p.m. at the Noxon High School multi-purpose room. Burial will follow at the Noxon Cemetery.
Larry was born Aug. 23, 1931, on a farm in Steele County, N.D. He was the fifth child born to James and Venita (Hulverson) Larkin. The family moved to Butte, Mont., in 1936 where they lived for a short time before moving to the Trout Creek/Noxon area.
One of the places they lived was a farm, which is now underwater, in the area where the islands in the upper reservoir can now be seen. The family bought a farm and settled in Noxon in 1939.
Larry quit school his freshman year and went to work. During his long years of working, he did a variety of jobs, which included cutting poles, working in brick and sugar factories, and loading trucks in the woods and at sawmills. He also helped with the construction of the Trout Creek bridge, the Noxon Rapids Dam, the fill for the railroad overpass and many mountain roads.
Larry was one the first men to run a 235 Cat Excavator (trackhoe) in the construction of mountain roads in the Missoula area. Many of the roads in the mountains around this area were built by him, including the Lone Cliff Road up Pilgrim Creek. Larry worked on the construction of the Cabinet Gorge Dam until he went into the U.S. Army.
Larry spent two years in Germany in defense of his country and is a veteran of the Korean War.
Although he had a diverse work history, his greatest love in working was being a heavy equipment operator — doing anything from loading logs to building roads. There was nothing he liked better than being on top of a mountain when the sun came up.
While he may have given up on getting a formal education, Larry had great wisdom on the important things in life.
In October 1952, he married Sharon Albano of Heron, Mont. The first few years of their married life were spent moving around but they settled in the Noxon area when they started their family. This choice meant that Larry often worked away from home and was only home on the weekends. The love and fun was saved up during the week and generously dispersed on the days that he was with his family.
Larry and Sharon also owned and operated the Waunegan Bar and Cafe for more than 20 years. He loved to spend his free time with just the family, picnicking, fishing and dancing. He also loved to hunt with his family and close friends.
Larry never knew a stranger, and no one in need was ever turned away from his home.
Larry is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sharon; and their six children, Colin (Mary) Larkin of Noxon, Shawn (Ronda) Larkin of Post Falls, Idaho, Teresa (Bill) Nelson and Deborah Weber, all of Noxon, Rebecca (Clint) Jensen of Heron and Jacqueline (Jeff) Kirkland of Trout Creek. Larry also leaves behind 24 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, James (Celia) Larkin of Spokane, Wash., and Mick (Frances) Larkin of Great Falls, Mont.; three sisters, Ann Gerstenger of Trout Creek, Noreen Graham of Roundrock, Texas, and Jean (Bob) Willliams of Stevensville, Mont.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were both parents, a brother, Don; and a granddaughter, Sheila.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bunch-Toews Funeral Chapel of Thompson Falls, Mont.