Funeral services for Larry Merrill, of Chadron, Nebraska will be at Chamberlain
Chapel in Chadron, on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at 2:00 pm with burial
following at Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be at Chamberlain Chapel
Friday, December 28, 2018 from 5 to 7pm.
Larry Dean Merrill, 71, rode his last horse on December 22, 2018. He passed
away in his Chadron, Nebraska home.
He was born August 11, 1947 in Hot Springs, SD at the Seven Sisters Hospital,
to Daniel and Joan (Birdsall) Merrill. Larry was raised in the Hot Springs area
and graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1965. During his high school
years, he worked as a Wrangler at the Blue Bell Lodge in Custer State Park.
After graduation he joined the National Guard. Following his military experience,
he worked for various ranchers including W.R. Boldon, Paul Hoef and Pete Witte.
On February 20, 1970 he married Kay Waltman of Chadron, NE. The couple resided
and raised their three children Melanie, Sid and Razen in the Chadron area. A man
of many trades, during his work years he served as a technician at Kansas-Nebraska
Gas, manager of Hubbard Mill in Chadron for several years, inspector for a fiber optic
firm in CA and retired from Crow Butte Resources in Crawford, NE.
Throughout his life, Larry was a cowboy, he spent time as a ranch hand, sale barn
employee, horseshoer, team roper, auctioneer and horse trainer. He bought and sold
many horses and loved “swappin stock.” Larry had a way of drawing people to him
(never knowing a stranger) and made many lifelong friends. In the words of one of
those friends and a fellow horseman “Larry was a cowboy and knew a good horse”.
Larry is lovingly remembered and survived by his wife Kay, Chadron, NE; daughter
Melanie(Boone) Herring, Veteran, WY , two sons Sid, Tuttle, OK and Razen (Kali Olson),
Piedmont, SD; Mother Joan Merrill McLaughlin, Hot Springs, SD; Sister Peg (Tom)
Porter, Edgemont, SD; sister in-law Gail Merrill, Buckeye, AZ; Mother in-law Betty
Waltman, Chadron, NE; brother in-law Riley (Dee) Waltman, Box Elder, SD; sister-
in-law Christie Dickinson (Andy Andrews), Gillette, WY; sister in-law Delinda Royse,
Wichita, KS; Five grandchildren; Cade and Cord Herring, Kaitlyn Thies Merrill,
Sloan and Ruby Merrill; many nieces and nephews, and lifetime friend Don Fish.
Preceded in death by his father Dan, brother Don, father in-law Bus Waltman, and
great niece Maggie Krejci.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund
and donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel P.O. Box 970, Chadron NE 69337.
Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.