Larry Mathews

Larry Mathews, age 57, of Draper, S.D., died on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, at his home north of Draper.

 

Larry Alan was born Jan. 19, 1960, to Gerald Mathews and Marlynrae Kilian Mathews at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, weighing in at 9 lbs., 4 oz. with curly blond hair. 

 

He started fifth grade in Pierre and graduated from Riggs High School in 1978. In high school, he was friends with everyone. He also enjoyed dancing, having a good time and making people laugh. He was friends with everyone and liked to play jokes on his friends. He enjoyed sports, football, and wrestling. Larry had such a great outlook on life. 

 

He was such an active and energetic child. As he grew older he went to help his dad with general ranch work. 

 

After graduation, he started a job at Gleeson Construction in Nebraska and worked for them for many years in several states as a construction supervisor. 

In 1986, Larry became a father of his only child. 

 

He continued to travel around the United States working for Gleeson. Then he settled down in his home in Fremont, Neb., for a few years, returning to South Dakota to ranch north of Draper. There he met the love of his life, Flo Hapney, and they became engaged. Flo lived with him and tended to him during his illness. He thought the world of his grandchildren and tended to spoil them.

 

Late in 2015, he was diagnosed with brain cancer. He continued his battle for 16 months, when finally, he was taken home to pass away peacefully at his ranch. He leaves to mourn Flo Hapney and her family; daughter, Ellie, son-in-law, Chad, grandchildren, Shayla and Desmond; brothers, Carl and Albert; sisters, Cindy Williamson, Geraldine (Gigi) and Mike Summers, and Debi and Mark Skees; parents, Marlynrae Kilian Mathews and Gerald Mathews (stepmother, Wanda); aunt and uncles, Patricia Greer, Philip and Audrey Mathews, Fredrick and Mary Mathews, Eleanor and Chuck Zuccaro, Clint and Sharon Caldwell, John and Betty Walinski, Ida and Ross Henrichsen, Eileen Duff; and many nephews and nieces. 

 

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ralph and Pauline Mathews and Ray and Eleanor Wendling Kilian; uncles, Leonard Greer and John Duff; cousin, John Duff, Jr. and Jesse Dugan.

 

A memorial visitation was held Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip.

 

A Celebration of Life service will be held in June 2017.

 

Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.