Larry Puhlmann July 18, 1942 – November 18, 2022.

Larry Donald Puhlmann was born on July 18,1942 in the Eureka, South Dakota hospital to Leah and Gustave Puhlmann. He was their third child of six, four boys and two girls. Larry's maternal grandparents John Nies and wife Frederica Kurle both immigrated from Germany they were farmers and sheepherders and settled in Eureka, SD. They had 14 children. Larry's paternal grandfather Frederich Wilhelm Puhlmann, immigrated from Berlin, Germany to St. Louis, MO where he met and married Larry’s grandmother, Augusta Carolina Hitzhe in 1897. They eventually settled in Ashley ND and raised 8 children. Larry was raised on his parents’ farm in rural Ashley, N.D. The homestead farm home was built by his grandfather Puhlmann in 1929 and still stands today on the Charles and Ethel Puhlmann ranch. Larry and his siblings worked and played hard out there in the country. At age 4 he was involved in a gasoline fire accident and his left leg was severely burned. He was treated at the Ashley hospital for 200 days… he escaped from the hospital at one point and walked down to his aunt’s house! He had to go back to the hospital, and they made sure he stayed there. The accident did not stop him from participating in any activity. This mindset stayed with him all his life, pushing through many obstacles. Larry attended rural Ashley ND schools and graduated in May 1961 along with his sister Geri. He then attended Ashley ND high school and graduated in May 1961. He then attended the North Dakota State School of Science with a focus on diesel mechanics. He graduated in the fall of 1963, later working at a local repair shop. He later moved to Aberdeen, SD where he was employed as a roofer. He met his wife, Lois Larson there. She was employed as secretary to the director of the Fine Arts Dept. Larry's roommate and best friend, Doug and Lois’s roommate, Deanna were dating, and they introduced Larry to Lois. Larry and Lois were married in Britton, SD, Lois’s hometown, on July 21, 1966. They eventually made their home in St. Louis, MO.

Larry found employment at a john Deere dealership and worked there for 22 years. He gained the reputation of being able to diagnose and repair the most difficult repairs. He left there to start his own large equipment repair service, staying very busy doing service calls. He continued this service well into his later years and spent many hours on the phone advising customers with problems with their equipment. He loved to fish and did that often as he could. He also enjoyed hanging out with people who stopped by in the neighborhood, and he ushered in his church for several years until he had to stop because of his mobility issues. Larry and Lois were blessed with two children, Lowell Douglas on Jan. 28, 1967, and Leslie Anne on June 16, 1983. Lowell and Terri Keller married, and they had four children, Ryan, Eric, Christopher, and Andrea. Lowell and Terri eventually divorced, and Lowell remarried Tammy Tesson. Leslie is single and lives at home with her mother, Lois. The family is now growing. Ryan and his wife Amanda have a daughter, Charlotte Joanne who is six months old. Christopher and his wife, Taylor have two children, Emma Grace who is 3 ½ and Benjamin Levi who is 16 months. Larry met and held Charlotte two weeks before his death. He was able to hold and play with Emma and Benjamin as well when they were in town. He was so proud of his grandchildren and great grandchildren and spoke of them often. He referred to Eric as the "professor" and called Christopher, “Chrissy, my boy”, his mobility issues prevented him from seeing them as often as he would have liked but he especially enjoyed being at family gatherings at the park or at Ryan and Amanda’s house. Larry is survived by his wife Lois, his son, Lowell and spouse Tammy, and his daughter Leslie. Four grandchildren, Ryan and spouse, Amanda, Eric, Christopher and his spouse, Taylor, and granddaughter, Andrea, all live in the St, Louis, MO area, and surrounding areas. Three great grandchildren, Emma Grace and Benjamin Levi, children of Christopher and Taylor. Charlotte Joanne, infant daughter of Ryan and Amanda. One brother, Charlie and spouse, Ethel from Ashley, ND and son Lary and his spouse, Mary from Ashley ND, two sisters, Geri, and Phyllis who both reside in San Antonio, Texas. Sister-in-law, Sheila Christofferson from Britton, SD and her children, Jason Christofferson, Janean Christofferson, Larry’s (goddaughter) and Erin Christofferson. Jason's son, Eric and Janean’s children, Tyler and spouse, Lauren, Jaxon, and Kaylee. Erin's children, Kiersten and husband Zachary, Hunter and Kade and Hadlyin and Erin’s grandsons, Liam, Zachary Jr., and Douglas and Triston. sister-in-law, Theresa, surviving spouse of Raymond Kaltveit, Lois’s brother. Their children, Michael and wife Sue, their daughter, April and husband Jai Olson and son Raymond, and their other daughter, Jen and her husband, Pablo, daughter Michelle and her son, Andy and his wife Lindsey and family. Brother-in-law Dale Larson and spouse, Cecily Larson of Boulder City, NV and their son, Peter Larson of Las Vegas, NV, daughter (and Larry’s goddaughter) Susan Peacock and her spouse Eric of Beverly, MA, sister in law, Dottie Puhlman of Fargo ND, surviving spouse of Larry’s late brother, Ellis. Their family, Michael and his wife, Sandi and son, Jacob. Pauline and her family, Isaiah and Rachael, Julia and spouse Joe and daughters Izzy and Kiara, also residing in Fargo, ND. Larry's youngest brother, Walter from Long Beach, CA passed away in August of 2008 followed by his wife Virginia in January 2012. Larry will be missed by many; he touched many lives in his own unique way. He was known to lend a hand to neighbors and friends in need. 

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