Larry Leroy King

Larry Leroy King, 82, passed away at home on July 3, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Larry was born on Feb. 28, 1944, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to K.C. King and Ruth V. Farnsworth. He was the youngest of four siblings, joining his brothers Richard and Gary, and his sister Janice.

Growing up, Larry’s family moved more times than he could count, giving him a wide range of experiences and memories along the way. Despite the frequent moves, he built lasting friendships and developed the resilience and good humor that stayed with him throughout his life.

Larry graduated from Glenwood High School in Glenwood, Iowa, with the Class of 1962. Soon after, he joined the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. Upon returning home, he met Patricia Robertson at Fort Bragg while getting his teeth cleaned. After a whirlwind courtship of just 21 days, they were married.

The couple settled in Iowa near his mother, where Larry learned the art of auto body repair and painting—skills that became a lifelong passion. A few years later, they moved to Libby, where Larry was hired at St. Regis Lumber Company as a millwright. They purchased five acres and a small home on Terrace View, which would become their forever home.

Larry built much of the house with his own hands, learning as he went—an impressive accomplishment, especially in a time before Google or YouTube. Their family grew with the birth of their daughter Amanda in the fall of 1971, followed by Eve three years later, and Cheryl in the summer of 1977. Larry worked tirelessly to provide for his family and took great pride in doing so.

He enjoyed restoring cars and completed many projects over the years. His most cherished accomplishment was building an experimental airplane in his basement. Larry loved flying his Long-EZ and sharing the experience with others.

A proud veteran, Larry dedicated many hours to serving his community. He drove the VA van, helped paint highway crosses with the American Legion, and participated in the Veterans Honor Guard. He was deeply committed to honoring fellow service members. 

Larry was a natural storyteller and never met a stranger. Whether he was trying to sell you something or share a joke, he could always be counted on for conversation. His favorite line of advice often began, “I’ll tell ya what a guy should do…” He was genuinely interested in people and always wanted to know where they were from.

Larry will be remembered for his hard work, his humor, his generosity and the many lives he touched along the way. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia, his beloved partner of 57 years.

He is survived by his brother Gary of Texas; and his daughters Amanda Hughan (Dave), Eve Cowin (Guy), and Cheryl King; as well as his grandchildren Gunnar, Hailley, Kemper, and Quillan.

Please join the family in sharing memories at a Celebration of Life for Larry and Pat at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 11,  at the VFW. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 13, 2026, at Libby Cemetery.