LARRY BLAHA

Larry Ray Blaha, 68, of Tea, (formerly of Wagner) lost his battle with mesothelioma on July 4, 2019, surrounded by family at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Funeral Mass was Monday, July 8 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Wagner. Burial was in the ZCBJ Cemetery, rural Wagner. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner was in charge of arrangements.

Larry was born in Wagner on September 12, 1950, to Charles and Mary (Kocer) Blaha and grew up on the family farm south of Wagner. He graduated from St. Paul’s Catholic High School in Marty. On July 5, 1968, he married his high school sweetheart Sharon Kay Deurmier. The two then embarked on a journey that ended one day short of their 51st wedding anniversary.

Larry worked at the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Plant in Cordova, IL before moving the family back to South Dakota. He was employed at Owatonna Manufacturing in Mitchell where he worked his way up to plant manager. In 1983, Larry opened L&S Welding in Wagner. He operated the welding shop until he accepted a job as the Wagner City Maintenance Supervisor in 2004. In October 2017, Larry retired. One week later, he became ill and was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Larry was a member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church, the Wagner Fire Department, Wagner Ambulance Service, Charles Mix Civil Defense, Dante Lake Club, Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever. He served on the Fire District Board, Wagner City Council and the Wagner Lake Beautification Committee. Honors included being chosen as Citizen of the Year and serving as the 2018 Wagner Labor Day Parade Marshall.

Larry will be remembered for his love of his children and grandchildren as well as his community service, playing cards,playing fast-pitch softball, and his passion for all things outdoors - especially fishing, hunting and camping.

Thankful for having shared his life are his wife, Sharon of Tea; five children: daughter Wendie (Sander) Morehead of Tea, their children Samantha (Jacob) Bouza, Stephanie (Austin) Russett, Zachary Morehead, Benjamin (Janna) Morehead, Jaelyn Morehead; son Chad Blaha of Rapid City and his son Colton Blaha; son Dustin (Jacque) Blaha of Summerset, their children Alexandrea, Keegan and Jayce Blaha; daughter Danette (Steve) Morehead of Sioux Falls, their children Brayden and Brielle Morehead; daughter Jessica (Curt) Hauff of Tea, their children Nathaniel and Kaitlyn Hauff; three great grandchildren: Wesley, Thatcher and Clara; four brothers: Donald (Lynda) of Lemoore, CA; Raymond of Ft. Pierre; Dennis (Lori) of Rapid City; Douglas (Connie) of Auburn, KS; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents and brother David.