Larry A. Board, age 78 of Clearwater, passed away at home May 4 due to complications of COPD. Larry was born in Pine River April 21, 1940 to Ralph and Julia Board. 

 

The youngest of four children, growing up Larry enjoyed hunting and fishing and shooting marbles with his friends. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Navy and after completing basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station, spent the next three and a half years on the USS Des Moines flagship for the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, where he spent time in many of the ports in the region and even got to attend the 1960 Olympics in Rome. 

 

After Larry was discharged from the Navy in April, 1961, he started dating Barb Arones, whom he had known since she was about six and he, ten. They were married on Dec. 1, 1962 and moved to the Twin Cities, eventually settling in Richfield, where they raised their three children. Larry earned his living as a Cable Splicer for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, which became U.S. West, then Qwest, and finally Century Link. 

 

He retired in 1999 after about thirty years with the company. In 1996 Larry and Barb moved to Clearwater where they had lived and were active members of the Clearwater Legion Post 323 for the last twenty-two years. Larry and Barb celebrated 54 years of marriage before Barb passed away in October 2017. 

 

Larry was preceded in death by his wife, Barb, his parents, and brother, Leonard Board. He is survived by his three children, Deanna Soeldner (Ron) of New Hope, Darrell Board (Lisa) of San Antonio, TX, and Lisa Martin of Farmington; granddaughters Emily, Julia, Sara, Maya, Lydia, and Sylvia; sisters, Gwen Board of Colorado and Helen Nash of Texas; many other relatives and friends.

 

 Larry enjoyed fishing, old cars, shooting pool, growing tomatoes, and feeding the birds. He liked a good joke and always had a story to tell. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends! 

 

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Clearwater American Legion Post 323 at 505 Pine Street, Clearwater, Sunday, June 10, from 2-6 p.m. with a short memorial program at 3 p.m.