Larry Alan McAnally, 66, of East Helena Montana went home to his Lord & Savior on Friday, March 3, 2017. He passed away at St Peter’s Hospital in Helena Montana with his family by his side. Larry fought a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Thursday, March 9, 2017 at St John’s Lutheran Church, 1001 Helena Ave., Helena Montana with Pastor Brad Ulgenes officiating. Cremation has taken place. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the family & Big Sky Crematory & Twitchell Funeral Service in East Helena, MT.
Larry was born July 11, 1950 in Poplar Montana to Brian & Louise (Forest) McAnally. He attended schools in Poplar and shared childhood memories with family and friends through church, clubs, and Boy Scouts. While in high school, Larry excelled in academics and leadership. He was an outstanding wrestler and standout football player despite his size. Larry graduated with honors in 1968. His strong will and determination were always apparent throughout his life.
After high school Larry attended Wahpeton College in Wahpeton, North Dakota. He joined the Army in 1970 and served with Big Red One, 1st Infantry Division stationed in Ft Riley, Kansas during the Vietnam Era. Larry served as radio operator and traveled with “Show of Force” in Germany.
Larry married Susan Davis on June 10, 1972 in Poplar, Montana. They moved to Helena, Montana in 1973 for Larry to continue his education at the Vo-Tech Center, where he received a degree as an electronic technician. Larry & Susan moved to Salt Lake City, Utah 1976 for a short time where Larry worked as a microwave transmission engineer. They moved back to Helena in February 1977, where they grew their family & raised their sons, Joe and Eddy. Larry worked for Federal Express and then the US Postal Service until he was forced to retire due to his health. Larry was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Helena. He was involved in Scouts, serving as Scout leader with Joe. Larry enjoyed the outdoors, spending many hours beautifying their yard. His past times, which always included family, were hunting, fishing, and being at the lake. Larry’s most enjoyable times were going to swim meets, ball games, and being with his grandchildren. He instilled love and dedication in his wife, sons, and grandchildren. Larry was a dedicated care giver for his wife the past five years.
Larry is survived by his wife of 44 years, Susan; son Joseph (Becky) McAnally & grandchildren Emily & Brian all East Helena MT; son, Edward (Jiff) McAnally & granddaughter Dylan Mae; brother Don McAnally, sister Gwyn (John) Nordwick, all of Helena MT, sister Diana (Harry) Reynolds of Gillette WY. Numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Larry is preceded in death by his parents Brian & Louise McAnally.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Peter’s Cancer Treatment Center, Helena MT. The family would like to extend special thanks to extended family, friends, doctors, nurses, aids, and all St Pete’s personnel who helped Larry during his fight with Multiple Myeloma.
Service Schedule
Service Schedule
Share
Reader Interactions
Memories
Read the thoughts and memories, then feel free to add your own.
Anonymous says
Peaceful White Lilies Basket was purchased for the family of Larry Mcanally.
Ken Cook says
To Susan and Larry’s family, I offer my thoughts about this man. I knew Larry from the PO, where we worked together for several years before he was forced to retire. A strong willed fellow, who would always stand his ground, Larry often butted heads with management at the Helena PO. That is what I admired about him. But it was also hard on him. He held in a lot of anger towards those in authority there, perhaps rightly so, but it wore on him constantly, and the easy going guy I had first met there was often sullen and upset.
I have not seen Larry for about 10 years now, but was fortunate to spend a day on the lake with him and ‘Jonesie” , and loved every minute of it. He thrived on being retired, and it showed.
As you all know, we lost a good one. Take care and know Larry left his mark where ever he set foot. Ken Cook
Juan Garza says
Susan and McNally family- We were so sorry to hear of Larry’s passing. We are unable to attend the service but know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Juan and Cindy Garza
Juan Garza says
I will always remember the hunting trip with Larry in West Yellowstone when I almost blew up the cabin. Larry held the door open when I lit the stove and the top blew off the stove. He informed before I lit the match that he had put kerosene on the stove and I had added more kerosene. I wanted to start the stove quickly as it was so cold.Larry was laughing at me while holding the door of the cabin open. We ended up going to the bar and was an unsuccessful hunting trip but was a good time.
Juan Garza
Ken Cook says
The hunting trip story was classic Larry. That smile you see in the photo above is a sly one, and if not aware that he was full of it, he would gladly oblige you. I was hunting with him once and it was getting dark, in fact we were already back in the truck and were heading down the road. Larry was driving and stopped the truck and was watching some deer in a field through his scope. I was about to advise him that we could not shoot the buck we were watching when the shot rang out, and the deer dropped. Needless to say, we hustled to get the deer dragged back to the truck and got out of there fast, luckily not being seen by anyone. Then later Larry pretended that he did not know how to skin and gut the deer, so of course I fell for that one, and did all the work while he “learned”, while watching and drinking a beer. I found out later that he had already hunted and gutted more deer than I would in the rest of my life. Ken Cook