Larry Piester

On May 20^th, Larry Piester was received into Heaven from Monument Health Rapid City.

Larry was born on October 5, 1943 at home in Mullen to Loyd and Mary (Ritenour) Piester.

Larry attended school in Mullen and graduated in 1961. He was proud to be a Bronco football, basketball, and track star. He was also active in choir, band, and was the Homecoming King.

Larry married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Jean Hohlfeld Piester on October 21, 1962.

They started their married lives together in Grand Island where Larry worked for Ed Clawson doing construction. Ed taught him many skills including cabinet making.

Into this union they were blessed with two daughters, Mitzi in 1965 and Jodi in 1967.

They moved to North Platte in 1971 and started their own construction company. Piester Construction. Larry was an amazing master craftsman. He built many beautiful homes and businesses over the next 39 years and enjoyed teaching many others the love of the trade. Larry was an active member in the North Platte and State Homebuilders Association and was the state president for 2 years. He earned the State Homebuilder of the year award in 1994. He and Jean traveled to Washington DC to speak in front of FEMA about Flood Plains in Nebraska.

Larry dedicated many years serving on the NebraskaLand Days Board and even served as President. He was also a member of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo Committee. His family enjoyed working with him on all these adventures. Larry was security and instrumental in setting up the arena when President Ronald Regan visited North Platte, and again when President Reagan came back with Governor Kay Orr. He was a founding member of the Cody Cavalry. He was honored with the Dale Studley Award in 2005 and the Trail Boss award in 2015.

Larry was an active member for the Lincoln County Jail Committee, North Platte Chamber Ambassador, and a member of the Eagles and Elks clubs. He enjoyed helping with the Chadron Community Hospital’s Circle of Light Fundraisers.

Larry and Jean moved northeast of Whitman when he retired to their family Kincaid. They loved spending time working together making their place look amazing with flowers, gardening, a large yard, and many other projects.

Larry enjoyed his dogs, cats, and horses. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and Husker fan. He enjoyed sharing his skills with his kids and grandkids.

Larry never knew a stranger and touched the lives of so many. He was always quick with a smile, advice, suggestions, a hug and was so quick witted. He definitely had an ornery streak to him. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Larry is survived by the Love of his life Jean, daughters Mitzi (AJ) Hunt and Jodi (Mark) Dannar all of Chadron. His grandchildren Nicole (Tim) Schmit and Ryan (Karissa) Cox all of North Platte, Jeramy Dannar of Norfolk and Victoria (Cody) Peterson of Plainview and great grandchildren Blakeleigh, Barrett, and Vydaylya Peterson, his sister Vera Wormington of Reno, NV and numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family.

Larry is preceded in death by his parents, in-laws, Siblings, Stan Piester, Evelyn Creelman, Georgia Carruth, and brother-in-law Les Wormington. He is now dancing with his angel great granddaughter Remington Jean Schmit.

Funeral services will be Friday, May 28th at 11:00 am MT at the Mullen United Methodist Church. Interment will be at the Cedarview Cemetery in Mullen. Memorials may be made to the family for future designation. A visitation will be on Thursday, May 27^th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm MT at the Mullen Funeral Home. Govier Brothers Mortuary of Mullen/Broken Bow/Arnold are in charge of arrangements. An online guest book may be signed at www.govierbrothers.com.