Larry D. Redfern, 89, passed away November 13, 2024 after a short bout with pneumonia. He was born February 3, 1935 in Hay Springs, NE, the son of Carl H and Grace M (Snook) Redfern. His family lived just outside of Hay Springs on a farm a few miles from where his future wife Marilyn’s family lived. The family later moved to the current Redfern farm/ranch where he lived from when he was six years old until his recent illness.
Larry graduated from Chadron Prep, class of 1953. He worked for the railroad and the sale barn for several years before joining the army in 1957. During his time in the army, he spent two years as a cryptographer with the Army Signal Corps, spending time at bases in Georgia, Washington, DC and North Carolina. He then attended college at Chadron State, receiving his Associate’s Degree in Agriculture. After finally meeting Marilyn (Hankins) at a local dancehall, they were married at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Hay Springs, NE on August 8, 1962. They settled on the farm/ranch eight miles east of Chadron where he had grown up. They raised cattle, hogs and chickens while growing wheat and alfalfa crops. Through the years, they enjoyed traveling to the Black Hills while their children were young and later traveling to visit family. Larry was an avid bowler and enjoyed sports on TV as well as cheering on the local teams. He was especially a dedicated football fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Chadron State Eagles and the Denver Broncos. He enjoyed having coffee with his neighbors and spending time with friends at the Baptist Fellowship breakfasts.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers Franklin and Dean as well as his sister Gyna (Gene) Durbin. Surviving in addition to his wife, Marilyn, are his sister-in-law Georgina (Dean), his sons, Melvin of Fort Morgan, CO and Lyndal and his wife Teena of Chadron and his daughter Lanette Tynan and her husband Michael of Draper, UT; as well as four grandchildren, Josh and Renee Redfern of Chadron and Emily and Ashley Tynan of Draper, UT.
A service of remembrance will be held at 10am on Saturday, November 30th at the Chamberlain Chapel, 1700 Hwy 20, Chadron. In lieu of flowers as Larry loved reading and spending time at the library, anyone wishing to remember him can make a donation in his name to the Chadron Public Library Foundation.