Larry E. Young

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Sargent United Methodist Church with Reverend Spenser Johnson officiating. A visitation will be held Thursday from 9:30 AM until service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Govier Brothers Mortuary of Broken Bow is assisting the family. Online condolences can be left at www.govierbrothers.com

Larry Elwyn Young

Larry Elwyn Young was born on March 11, 1934, on a farm near Gates, Nebraska, the second child of Ralph and Irene (Shively) Young. He departed this life on December 28, 2024, at the age of 90 years.

In 1935 at the age of one, he and his family moved from Gates to the Roy Sweet place northeast of Sargent. There Larry attended the Snowball School District #47 through the 8th grade. In the fall of 1948, the family moved to the ranch north of Sargent where he spent the remaining years of his life. He graduated from Sargent High School in 1952. After graduation, he worked on a Sandhill’s ranch until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1954. A Korean War Veteran, Larry spent two years in the service, 18 months stationed in England.

On January 3, 1954, Larry was united in marriage with his high school sweetheart Shirley Gibbens. They were blessed with six children, Victor Kenneth, Shauna Mae, Melanni Layne, Melissa Laree, Bridget Lanette, and Zane Quincy.

After their marriage, they resided in Sargent and worked at various jobs until 1958 when they established their ranch north of Sargent. There Larry was able to fulfill his dream of becoming a full-time rancher. During his ranching years, he also managed Mid-State Coop in Burwell and Sargent. He was instrumental in helping build the first concrete grain elevator in Sargent, Nebraska.

Larry was always an active member of the community. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, the VFW, and the American legion. He served on the Sargent School Board, the Sargent Township Board, Church Board, and the Co-op Board. In the mid-90s Larry and Shirley started Tree Wranglers tree cutting service which they ran for the next 25 years. This business enabled him to make many new friends as he traveled the hills cutting their cedars. He never knew a stranger and was a friend to everyone he met. Larry was a hard worker, but he took time to enjoy many activities. He loved to watch the kids' and grandkids' events. He loved spending time at the family pond and teaching his grandchildren how to fish. Larry was an avid reader and a history buff. This made him the best competitor in our family trivia games. He loved to recite stories and facts of the families who homesteaded in the hills. He and Shirley loved to travel. They visited many states in the U.S. as well as Ireland, England, Australia, Mexico, The Bahamas, and Nova Scotia. Larry was very proud of his children, his 14 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. He loved to entertain them all with his funny tales, cowboy stories, and endless jokes and tricks.

Larry will be fondly remembered by his wife Shirley, son Victor and wife Susan of Kearney, daughter Melanni and husband Kenny Loper of Callaway, daughter Melissa Young of long Island, New York, daughter Bridget and husband Ken Sheets of Ord, son Zane and wife Teresa of Sargent.

Grandchildren: Austin (Tiffany) Young, Audra (Brian) Haas, Rhett (Allison) Young, Kailey Loper, Levi (Anna) Loper, Lafayette (Alexa) Loper, Cheyney Loper, Kirby (Mason) Heath, Cooper Sheets, Grady Sheets, Quincy (Elizabeth) Young, Quade Young, Clare Young, Queston Young. Great grandchildren: Beckett, Grayson, Etta and Rudy Young, Vivian and Jaxon Young. Brother: Bruce (Frannie) Young of Texas. Sister: Yvonne (Dick) West of Arizona. And many relatives and friends.

Larry was preceded in death by baby daughter Shauna Mae, baby granddaughter Carrie Irene Young, his parents Ralph and Irene Young, brother Lyle Young and sister-in-law Gaylene Young.