Larry Leon Schulte

Larry Leon Schulte, 86, of Golva, North Dakota, peacefully slipped off to paradise to be with his parents, sister, son, and granddaughter on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. Larry was born in Beach, North Dakota, on April 28, 1937, to John and Madeline (Baughman) Schulte. He was the older brother to Delbert (1944) and Carolyn (1945). Larry attended grade school at the Clark Country School and graduated from Golva High School in 1955. It took him an extra year to graduate, having missed a significant portion of his junior year due to rheumatic fever. After high school, he joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, spent time in Korea, and returned home to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Larry always said that his ship to Korea made good time, but coming home, it took its time. While in Korea, he made some friends that he had for life, and for many years, he kept in touch with them via live chats on the computer. Larry even attended a few reunions with those buddies. During his time in Korea, he was a helicopter crew chief, flew model airplanes, and learned the love of flying in general. He had a pilot’s license for many years, and before giving up his license, he took all of his kids for one final flight. After most of his kids were out of the house, he started building radio-controlled model planes again. His prized plane was one he made from yardsticks; it was huge. He joined a flying club in Glendive, Montana, and loved the airshows. Apparently, at one airshow, he and another pilot had the same radio frequency, so Larry was “controlling” someone else’s plane–it didn’t end well. His family secretly loved to see him fly his model planes but joked about how dangerous it was to be in the area because dive bombing was inevitable, and then the plane he had spent months building would be in sticks. He still always had a smile on his face as he hauled the wreck back to the spectators. After getting discharged from the Army and before meeting Shirley, Larry lived in Glendive and was a cement truck driver. He was pretty proud that he could meet people on the Belle Street Bridge in that truck. Larry met his bride-of-sixty-four years, Shirley Watembach, and they were married within six months. After they were married, they moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Larry worked for American Motors. They lived in a 27-foot trailer, right next door to some of Larry’s mother’s relatives. It is said that they could reach out their kitchen windows and hand things back and forth between the trailers. In that trailer, Larry overhauled a motorcycle engine–right in the living room. While in Kenosha, their oldest son, John (1960), was born. Their next move was to Wibaux, where, Larry was co-owner of City Service Garage and they welcomed their second son, Jim (1961). From Wibaux, they moved back to Golva and lived with Larry’s parents while they waited for the Fred Kremers family to move to their new farm. Larry and Shirley welcomed Darrel (1963), and, soon after, they moved onto the Emma Geary farm, purchasing it in 1978. While living at their farm, they welcomed Dennis (1965) and Susan (1967). Living in Golva, Larry was a plumber, ditch digger, grave digger, and bus driver. His favorite job of all was being a bus driver. He loved seeing all of the kids each day. One year, the school gave him a jacket with his bus driving statistics. Larry wore that jacket almost every day; he was wearing it on September 1st when he checked into the hospital. Upon retirement and moving to Beach in 2015, Larry remained active. At least once a day he would go to Cenex for coffee, and he was a regular for lunch and coffee at Buzzy’s Café. He also became a very dedicated docent at the Golden Valley County Museum. He took great pride in being very thorough when he gave tours; his favorite visitors were his grandson, Brandon, and his young buddies. When Larry and Shirley began to struggle with their health, they moved from their apartment up to the Golden Valley Manor. Larry took a special liking to playing corn hole. He also enjoyed making many crafty things with his favorite gal, Mary Kay. One of the many perks at the Manor for Larry was that he was just a few steps away from the Chapel so he could attend Mass easier, and he could say the Rosary with other residents. When there wasn’t Rosary in the Chapel, he made sure that he and Shirley said it in the evening—a habit they had formed many years earlier. Larry is survived by his wife, Shirley; his oldest son, John of Dickinson, ND; son, Darrel (Heidi) of Hebron, ND; son, Dennis (Christine) of Ocean Shores, WA; and daughter, Susan (Jerry) of Circle, MT; daughter-in-law, Lori Schulte of Golva; brother, Delbert (Sherry); brother-in-law and sister-in-law, David and Diane Watembach; sister-in-law, Joan Berger; special family friend, Susan Zier; his grandchildren, Suzanne, Lewis, Derek (Amy), Dan (Tabetha), Kevin, RaeAnn (Ken), Brandon, Theodore (Grace), Danielle, Wyatt, Kyle, Chris (Amber), Crystal, Catarina (Paxton), Jeremy (Melissa), Josh (Leigha), Jesse (Sarah), Kiffin, and Kayla; and many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, John and Madeline; sister, Carolyn; son, Jim; granddaughter, Courtney; father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Florence Watembach; sister-in-law, Jean Schulte; brother-in-law, Don Berger; and brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Dominik, Ralph, and Dorothy Job. Visitation will be held from 6:00 PM until 7:00 with a Vigil Service at 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 20, 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Golva. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, June 21, 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Father Adam Maus officiating. Rite of Committal will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Silha Funeral Home of Beach has been entrusted with the arrangements. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Larry Leon Schulte

April 28, 1937 - September 5, 2023

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Larry Leon Schulte

April 28, 1937 - September 5, 2023

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