Col. Lawrence Roy Tassie, U.S. Army (Ret.), 93, passed away on Saturday, November 10, 2018 in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Viewing will be held on Sunday evening, November 18, from 5-7 p.m. at the Lakeview Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 19, 2018, at the Lakeview Funeral Home, Sandpoint. Military honors will follow at the Lakeview Cemetery. A reception will be held at the Sandpoint Elks Lodge.

Larry was born on December 3, 1924 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Roy and Rose (Baumert) Tassie. When his mother divorced Roy, Rose married Melvin Meadows whom Larry loved dearly and called him “Dad.” Larry graduated from West High School in 1942, where he played football and basketball. After graduation he was drafted into the Army and served in the South Pacific during World War II.

Larry married Margaret Holgerson July 1946 in Salt Lake City. After his military service, he attended the University of Utah, completing ROTC training during that time. After graduation Larry rejoined the Army and was promptly sent to fight in the Korean War.

In 1954, after several other assignments, Larry spent a year in Saudi Arabia as military advisor in artillery. There he met King Saud and was gifted a beautiful gold dagger for his service.

His next assignment was Language School to learn German, then 1960 was assigned as assistant attaché for the American Embassy in Vienna, Austria. In 1964, upon returning home, he divorced Margaret and headed to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. A year later was stationed at the Pentagon.

Larry married Jewel Smith on November 29, 1968 in Washington, D.C. He then served in Vietnam, his third war. His next assignment was attaché to the American Embassy in Vienna, Austria.

After 36 years of military service, Larry retired in 1979 as a Colonel at Ft. Richardson, Alaska. He retired to his home on Glengary Bay in Sagle, Idaho.

He is survived by his daughter, Peggy “Susie” (Lyle) Hansen of Sagle; son, Randy Tassie of Salt Lake City, Utah; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sisters Jeanne Felts of Sandpoint, and Marie Duncan of Priest River, Idaho.

He belonged to the Elks, Masons, Shriners, served as chairman of the board of directors for the Shrine Hospital for Children in Spokane, and volunteered at the Bird Museum.

He enjoyed golfing, trap shooting, trips to the casino, any card games with his friends, especially poker and cribbage, traveling, and time on his tractor.

Socializing with people was very important to Larry, thus his friendships across the world are many.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jewel Tassie, sister Marjorie Lobdell, and brother-in-law Ken Lobdell.

Memorial donations may be made to the Bonner Community Hospice, 602 N. Third Ave, Sandpoint, ID 83864; or Disabled American Veterans.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Col. Tassie’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.