1927
Lawrence
2011
Lawrence Walsh
October 9, 1927 — March 27, 2011
Memorial Services for Lawrence "Larry" Walsh will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 2:00 PM at St. John's Catholic Church in Ortonville, MN. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 1, 2011 from 7-9:00 PM at St. John's Catholic Church in Ortonville. Father Robert Goblirsch will be officiating. Burial will be at a later date.
The family of Lawrence E. Walsh, Sr. celebrates 83 years of commitment to family, community, and heritage. "Larry" Walsh died peacefully at home in Ortonville, MN surrounded by family on March 27, 2011.
Larry married Leora Hawkey on August 12, 1952. They met after a Tupperware party his mother had hosted in Springfield, SD. Larry needed a ride home. Leora had a car, and Larry didn't. Despite this deficit, Larry pursued Leora relentlesslya�"one of his many accomplishments. Together, they prospered six children; twelve grand children; and eight great-grand children.
Larry and Leora both attended Springfield Teachers College and became educators of 36 and 30 years, respectively. He coached football, basketball, volleyball, and track & field throughout his tenure. He retired from Ortonville High School in 1989. Prior to a career in education, Larry was a five-time track & field state champion in South Dakota and, later, a world-class athlete, earning a slot on the Olympic trials team in Milwaukee, WI in 1951. He later volunteered for the Navy Reserve.
Larry became a painter's apprentice when he was 17 years old, and he painted professionally until he was well into his 70s. Through his summer work as a painter, he opened doors for himself and his family that may have remained closed without his work ethic and spirit of generosity.
Community benefited from Larry's self-less giving. For example, he was active in the Boy Scouts of America; he raised money and rode in the MS Bicycle Tram, the ride across Minnesota (for ten years); he volunteered countless hours of painting, including at St. John's Catholic Church in Ortonville, MN. He had a profound respect for nature. He loved to sit in the backyard at 608 Orchard St, bemusing the purple martins that he lured yearly due to a strategic ritual of putting up martin houses which he had made.
Larry was born in Armour, SD on October 9, 1927 to Phillip and Berenice (Barnable) Walsh, both of proud Irish heritage. He visited Ireland twicea�"once with his mother in 1979 and again with Rob in 2001. He arranged, in collaboration with his siblings and cousins, the restoration of the Walsh monument at St. Patrick's Church, Faugheen, Ireland, the final resting place of his great-grandfather.
Lawrence E. Walsh, Sr. was preceded in death by his parents and one brother in infancy, Paul. He is survived by his wife, Leora; six children: Ed of Sioux Falls, SD, Lori Johnson (Rod) of Royalton, MN, Jim (Roda) of Maynard, MN, Leanne Walsh-Becker (Brad) of Sauk Rapids, MN, Rob (Pam) of Valley City, ND, and Tom of Ortonville, MN; twelve grand children: Lee, Nicole, Javier, Alex, Emily, Claire, Patrick, Dara, Luke, Shay, Cory, and Bridget; and eight great-grand children: Araya, Maria, Ian, Tyler, Isabelle, Sophie, Asa, and Isannah. He is survived by his sister Jeanne Rathbun of Alhambra, CA; his twin brother John Louis (Marcia) of St. Paul, MN; and his brother Vince (Maureen) of Omak, WA.
Larson Funeral Home in Ortonville is in charge of arrangements. To send condolences to the family, on-line, visit our website at www.larsonfuneral.com
The family of Lawrence E. Walsh, Sr. celebrates 83 years of commitment to family, community, and heritage. "Larry" Walsh died peacefully at home in Ortonville, MN surrounded by family on March 27, 2011.
Larry married Leora Hawkey on August 12, 1952. They met after a Tupperware party his mother had hosted in Springfield, SD. Larry needed a ride home. Leora had a car, and Larry didn't. Despite this deficit, Larry pursued Leora relentlesslya�"one of his many accomplishments. Together, they prospered six children; twelve grand children; and eight great-grand children.
Larry and Leora both attended Springfield Teachers College and became educators of 36 and 30 years, respectively. He coached football, basketball, volleyball, and track & field throughout his tenure. He retired from Ortonville High School in 1989. Prior to a career in education, Larry was a five-time track & field state champion in South Dakota and, later, a world-class athlete, earning a slot on the Olympic trials team in Milwaukee, WI in 1951. He later volunteered for the Navy Reserve.
Larry became a painter's apprentice when he was 17 years old, and he painted professionally until he was well into his 70s. Through his summer work as a painter, he opened doors for himself and his family that may have remained closed without his work ethic and spirit of generosity.
Community benefited from Larry's self-less giving. For example, he was active in the Boy Scouts of America; he raised money and rode in the MS Bicycle Tram, the ride across Minnesota (for ten years); he volunteered countless hours of painting, including at St. John's Catholic Church in Ortonville, MN. He had a profound respect for nature. He loved to sit in the backyard at 608 Orchard St, bemusing the purple martins that he lured yearly due to a strategic ritual of putting up martin houses which he had made.
Larry was born in Armour, SD on October 9, 1927 to Phillip and Berenice (Barnable) Walsh, both of proud Irish heritage. He visited Ireland twicea�"once with his mother in 1979 and again with Rob in 2001. He arranged, in collaboration with his siblings and cousins, the restoration of the Walsh monument at St. Patrick's Church, Faugheen, Ireland, the final resting place of his great-grandfather.
Lawrence E. Walsh, Sr. was preceded in death by his parents and one brother in infancy, Paul. He is survived by his wife, Leora; six children: Ed of Sioux Falls, SD, Lori Johnson (Rod) of Royalton, MN, Jim (Roda) of Maynard, MN, Leanne Walsh-Becker (Brad) of Sauk Rapids, MN, Rob (Pam) of Valley City, ND, and Tom of Ortonville, MN; twelve grand children: Lee, Nicole, Javier, Alex, Emily, Claire, Patrick, Dara, Luke, Shay, Cory, and Bridget; and eight great-grand children: Araya, Maria, Ian, Tyler, Isabelle, Sophie, Asa, and Isannah. He is survived by his sister Jeanne Rathbun of Alhambra, CA; his twin brother John Louis (Marcia) of St. Paul, MN; and his brother Vince (Maureen) of Omak, WA.
Larson Funeral Home in Ortonville is in charge of arrangements. To send condolences to the family, on-line, visit our website at www.larsonfuneral.com
Funeral Home
Larson Funeral Home401 NW 2nd Street
Ortonville, MN 56278