Larry Hendrickson

Larry Joseph Hendrickson was born on May 16, 1946, the third son and fourth child of Harry and Maggie (Klee) Hendrickson. He was born at home one mile north of Buffalo, Wyoming. The family lived at this location until the 50s when they moved to town. Larry attended elementary school and two years of High School (Johnson County High School) until he decided to quit school, the year was May of 1964. Larry received a letter from the Selective Service on June 26, 1964, to report to Old Custom House, Denver Colorado. He served in the United States Army from July 28, 1964, he was sent by train to Ft. Lenard Wood, Missouri for basic training, Larry graduated from basic training on Oct 1, 1964. He was assigned to the 102nd Engineer Company at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He learned on-the-job training for (Military Occupational Specialty) Cook. He served overseas in Vietnam for 3 tours, Republic of West Germany for 2 tours and he ended his military service at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Larry left the military on June 16, 1975, he drove US HWY 183 from Ft. Sill, Oklahoma to Presho, South Dakota where the highway ended, Larry said, driving Highway 183 during the harvested time was very challenging with all the combiners.

He moved to Worland, Wyoming, and worked as a cook, before moving on to another job and town, his family called him a gypsy for a while after leaving the service, working and moving around until he moved to Corpus Christi, Texas working several jobs until the security job at the county hospital. He moved to Dallas and worked at another hospital making deliveries, before moving back to Corpus Christi, Texas until 1987. Larry moved to Presho, South Dakota in 1987 and he moved to Yankton, South Dakota in Oct 1987, he started a new job at the Human Service Center in October of 1987, where he met his future wife. Larry’s and Mary’s parents both lived in Presho, South Dakota so they decided to go together, and he dropped Mary off at her parents and he went to his parents, this was in May of 1988. On September 4, 1988, Larry and Mary Anderson were married at Presho, South Dakota. They went to the Black Hills of South Dakota for their honeymoon. They got to the cottage about midnight and turned on the heat, but the cottage was very cold until they discovered the windows were wide open then they had to turn down the heat. They made their home in a basement apartment in Yankton, South Dakota. November 1989 a daughter was born. In April 1990, they moved to Redfield, South Dakota, where he worked for the nursing home until he went to work as a cook at the South Dakota Developmental Center, then in July of 1991, they bought their first home. In December 1992 a second daughter was born. He also worked other jobs in Redfield and Aberdeen, South Dakota. They moved to Sheridan, Wyoming in June 2000. He worked at VA Medical Center until he retired in November 2010. He liked spending time on the mountain camping, taking pictures of wildlife, spending time with his family, and spending time with his grand dogs as well as enjoying time with his first granddaughter this last year. He passed away on March 31, 2024, at home with family on Easter Sunday.

He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Maggie Hendrickson, and his brothers James, Rodney, and Robert Hendrickson, niece Bella Brown and her husband Richard, nephew Christopher Buderus, and a great nephew Richard Buderus and sister-in-law Colleen Hendrickson, and bother in laws’ Richard Buderus and Larry Moore.

He is survived by his wife Mary Hendrickson of Sheridan, WY; two daughters Emily Hendrickson of Sheridan, WY; Amanda (John) Colwell of Sheridan, WY and his granddaughter Freya Colwell of Sheridan, WY and sister Gloria Moore of Cheyenne, WY and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Life will be held on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 1:00 pm at Kane Funeral Home with Father Whewell officiating, with Military Honors. A desert reception to follow in the Kane Reception Hall. On Monday, May 13 at 1:00 pm will be a burial in Sturgis National Cemetery. Condolences may be directed to Mary Hendrickson, 1008 W 11th St., Sheridan, WY, 82801.

Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com. Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.