Larry Block

WEBSTER – Lawrence “Larry” Block 58 of Webster passed away Tuesday, April 10th at Bethesda Nursing Home in Webster, South Dakota after a valiant battle with brain cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, April 21, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grenville. Fr. Brian Simon will celebrate the mass. Memorial visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday 5-7 P.M. ending with a 7 P.M. Rosary. Private inurnment of cremains will take place at a later date. Lawrence Gregory Block was born December 17, 1959 to Doris (Stromseth) and Carl Block in Webster, South Dakota. He attended grade school at St. Joseph’s Catholic Elementary School in Grenville, South Dakota, until it closed, then later transferred into the Webster School System where he finished grade school, Junior High, and graduated High School in 1978. He continued his education at the State School of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota, graduating with a plumbing degree. He eventually became a Master Plumber licensed in both Colorado and South Dakota. He was also an accomplished electrician. In High School, Larry was active in FFA and the Webster Wrestling Team while simultaneously contributing substantially to the operating functions of the family farm. He was an outstanding and gifted athlete, as well as a good sportsman. Larry’s wrestling talents helped the Webster High School Wrestling Team win many regional and state championships, and his sportsmanship, scholarship and athleticism earned him the distinguished white W from Webster High School. Larry moved to Akaska, South Dakota, soon after finishing school at Wahpeton. He did freelance plumbing for many area ranchers. While working there he met Wendy Anderson, whom he later married. To this union were born two children, Brittany Nicole Block and Brandon Carl Block. Wendy’s daughter, Robyn Dawn Eldridge, joined their family through this union. Wendy and Larry were later divorced. Larry used his considerable skills in large projects around the United States. He was proud of his work on the Peterson Air Force Base and NORAD, at the Cheyenne Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. He also worked extensively in Devil’s Lake, ND, Mission, SD and Grand Junction, CO. For the last 20 years Larry has worked as an independent plumber and electrician in Webster, SD. Larry was especially noted for his steady and calm demeanor, his ability to troubleshoot and solve all of the impossible issues others couldn’t, as well as his trustworthiness. He was also noted for his kind and gentle nature, his smile, his hugs, his patience, his wise counsel, and his generosity. Larry performed more kind acts for more people than any of us will ever know. He was private in nature and he needed no recognition for his help to those in need. Larry enjoyed a good fish fry, a quiet morning, a job well done, a good night’s sleep, a strong cup of coffee, a generous portion of any meal, a good riddle, a silly joke, and time to contemplate the nature of the universe and to solve a difficult math problem. Larry had a curious and beautiful mind and was a life-long learner. Larry loved his children, his dogs, his trees, and his Twyla, who was his junior high sweetheart and later his life companion and eternal love. Larry and Twyla dreamed of retiring to the family farm before his illness struck. Larry was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Block, and his paternal and maternal grandparents. Larry is survived by his partner, Twyla Olson, Webster, SD, his parents, Carl and Doris Block of rural Waubay, SD, his children Robyn Eldridge of Las Vegas, NV, Brittany Block, of St. Paul, MN, Brandon Block (Sarah) of Mitchell, SD and his three sisters Audrey Block of Aberdeen, Joyce(Bob Gix) of Cashmere, WA, Sandy (Lester) Hansen of Veblen, SD, and his six brothers, Dan of Aberdeen, SD, Ken (Terri) of Venore, TN, Ron (Nancy) of Webster, SD, Keith (Jennifer) of Wilmot, SD, Douglas (Elaine) of Watertown, SD, Charles (Linda) of Hudson, WI, as well as many loving nieces and nephews and grandchildren. Memorials to Bethesda Nursing Home, Webster, SD and Prairie Lakes Hospice in Watertown, SD.