Larry Easton passed away on June 8, 2023 in Atkinson, NE. Funeral Services were held at 10:30 a.m, Wednesday, June 14, at First Presbyterian Church in Atkinson, NE with burial at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Atkinson, NE.
Lawrence Orland Easton was born August 24, 1940 in Wessington Springs, SD to Elmer and Evelyn Easton. He joined one sister Marilyn “Jo” and one brother Tom at home. Larry grew up on the family ranch five miles West and 4 1/2 miles South of Wessington Springs, SD until the age of four when the family moved to a ranch in the Media Township in SD. Larry attended the Madden Country School and graduated from Wessington Springs High School in 1958.
In the 60s Larry farmed and ranched in the White Lake, SD area until 1976 when he relocated to Nebraska and worked for the Galyen family driving truck and farming/ ranching he worked for the Galyen family for over 45 years.
From 1979-1986 Larry was married to Joyce Sterns and became a father for the first time to Ronnie, Jodi, and Robin. They made their home five miles North of Stuart until 1982 when they relocated to a ranch two miles West and 1/2 mile South of Atkinson until 1984 when he bought the house in Atkinson. In 1986 “Grandpa” was a new title that Larry acquired, he was a proud Grandpa, a title that he cherished his whole life.
August 25, 1990 Larry wed Mary Lou Brown in Gordon, NE and became a father to Lisa, Time, Bill, Susie, and Sara. Larry, Mary Lou, Susie and Sara all made their home in Atkinson. Through the years Larry drove truck, had cattle and horses and just worked hard. In early 2000 Larry had to give up driving truck, his eyesight had started to fail him and he didn’t feel comfortable being the “big wheel” any longer, but continued to work for the Galyen family wherever he was needed to help out.
Larry was always a cowboy at heart and loved riding his horses and being around the cattle. The hardest thing Larry ever had to do in his life was making the decision to sell his herd, he was no longer, because of his health able to do the work needed to take care of them.
Larry believed in working hard and did so his whole life until his health did not allow it any longer. Larry enjoyed any activities that involved cattle and horses, in the 80s when living north of Stuart he served as 4-H horse and cattle leader when the kids belonged to the Cleveland 4-H Club. Over the years Larry attended many rodeos and roping events with his Brother-in-law Bill Kaplan. Larry was a member of the Atkinson Lions Club and one of the highlights to his year was operating the chute at the annual Lions Club Rodeo during Hay Days. In his later years, Larry could be found at home watching rodeos on the cowboy channel every evening and Mary Lou sitting with him. Larry also enjoyed attending “the college of knowledge” every morning for coffee and attending any family holidays, weddings, graduations, birthday parties and just stopping in for a visit with his kids and friends. His kids, grandkids and great grandkids meant the world to him.
Larry is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, Children Ronnie (Gwen) Sterns of Inman, Jodi (Glen) Poessnecker of Atkinson, Robin (Scott) Cronk of Page, Lisa (Lenard) Thomas of Axel, TX, Tim Brown of Naperville, IL, Bill (Melissa) Brown of Omaha, Melinda “Susie” (Dave) Zuck of McCook, and Sara Brown of Omaha, one sister Marilyn “Jo” Robbins of Wessington Springs, SD and one brother Tom (Barbra) of Paso Robles, Ca. 21 grand children and 19 great grand children, many nieces, nephews and cousins. Brother-in-laws Terry (Nelda) Kaplan and Gary Kaplan of Gordon and Bill Kaplan of Stuart.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Keith Robbins, sister-in-law Bonnie Kaplan and son Allen Brown, whom Larry never had the chance to know.
