Larry Henry

Larry Henry passed away peacefully at home on March 1 after a struggle with cancer.

Larry was born June 18, 1939 in Rapid City, SD to the late R. Leon and Maude (Rogers) Henry and grew up there along with his older brother, Loren.  He and his family enjoyed exploring, picnicking, and hiking in the beautiful Black Hills.  During his high school and college summers he worked on construction crews under his father’s supervision, driving heavy equipment and building roads and dams in remote areas of South Dakota.  This solidified Larry’s appreciation of nature and his lifelong love of beautiful and undeveloped places.

Larry attended South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, earning a degree in Civil Engineering. He was a member of the Triangle Fraternity, where he developed friendships and bonds with his fraternity brothers that endured throughout his life and brought much joy.

Larry and Margy Sullivan met in Denver and married in 1978.  In 1979, at the age of 40, he welcomed his first child, Scott, followed by Laura in 1982.  Family became the focus, priority, and joy of Larry’s life.  He was an involved and active father, from calming a crying baby to supporting the children in athletics, encouraging them in academics, teaching them to drive, and making that difficult trip to deliver them to college.  Larry’s exceptional patience, quiet strength, and quick dry wit were qualities that blessed his family’s lives.  Larry became a proud and tender grandfather at age 71, and was fascinated by each of his three grandchildren.

Larry had a long and successful career with the Federal Highway Administration, with assignments in varied places such as Marble Mount, Washington; Oklahoma City; St. Paul; Sacramento; and San Francisco.  He accepted an assignment to the Lakewood office of FHWA in 1974 where he was involved with the planning, design, and construction of roads and bridges in national parks and national forests. Larry said this was the “best job he could imagine” because it encompassed travel to some of the most beautiful places in the western part of this great country. He remained in this assignment until his retirement in 1999.

After retirement, Larry contributed to the community by volunteering for a number of organizations including the Denver Museum of Science and Nature, the Lakewood Heritage center, The Foothills Animal Shelter, and the Green Mountain Optimist Club.  He enjoyed the opportunity to continue learning, to help others, and to form new friendships.

Larry is survived by his wife, Margaret; son Scott; daughter Laura (Isaac) Welle; grandchildren Brynn, John, and Marion; brother Loren (Jeri); and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests scholarship donations in Larry’s memory to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Memorial gifts can be made online at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (https://cara.sdsmt.edu/donate) by selecting “other’ in the “give to” area and typing “Larry Henry memorial’ in the box that appears. Donations by check can be sent to SDSM&T CARA, 330 E Kansas City Street, Rapid City, SD 57701 noting in the memo line that it is a memorial for Larry Henry.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 11:00 AM at St. Jude Catholic Church, 9405 West Florida Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado.  Followed by a reception in the church hall.  A Committal Service with Army honors will be held at 2:00pm at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 South Sheridan Boulevard, Denver, Colorado.

Please share your memories of Larry and condolences with his family by signing the tribute wall.