Larry Lee Gray

Larry Lee Gray, 75, of Buffalo Center, IA, joined his heavenly Father on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at his home in Buffalo Center, IA after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 26 at 11 a.m. at Community Chapel in Lakota, IA with Pastor Brad Devries officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, February 26 at Community Chapel in Lakota, IA and will continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Larry Lee Gray was born on August 6, 1940 in rural Titonka, IA, the son of Arnold and Sadie (Huisman) Gray. He attended Country School during 1st through 8th grade and attended high school in Titonka, graduating in 1957. While in high school, Larry met his sweetheart, Kathleen Betels and they were united in marriage on March 28, 1959 at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. Larry enjoyed pitching for various fast-pitch softball teams from the time he was in high school through the late 1970's. He acquired his pilot's license in 1968 and enjoyed recreational flying, donating his time flying pastors, missionaries and family members, as well as assisting many people requiring medical attention in Iow...[more]

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ity. Larry always loved living and working on the farm from the time he was born until he moved to the Twin Cities in 1985. He met and made many life-long friends in his various farming-related activities which included selling seed corn. When Larry and Kathy moved to the Twin Cities, he worked in Insurance Sales and property management. In 1993, he started working at Bethel University in Arden Hills, MN as Supervisor of Student Housing Maintenance and retired from that position in 2006. Following his retirement, he worked part-time at New Life Church and Academy in Woodbury, MN until 2011. While living and working in the Twin Cities, Larry met many new people and friends that loved him like family. After Kathleen retired in 2012, Larry and Kathleen moved back "home" to Buffalo Center, IA. Larry loved Jesus and lived out his faith by helping and serving others. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 56 years, Kathleen - Sons: Larry Alan (Kim) of Buffalo Center, IA and Steven (Debbie) of Gilbert, IA - Daughters: Cindy (Chris) Martinson of Cottage Grove, MN and Kim (John) Enright of Buffalo Center, IA - Grandchildren: Joshua (Jenn) Gray, Matt (Emma) Gray, Emily (Scott) Levine, David, Renee and Amanda Gray, Samantha, Savannah and Wyatt Martinson, Kaitlyn (Jacob) Grobe and Chloe Enright - Great-Grandchildren: Alexis, Brayden, Addison and Peyton Gray, Glori, Georgia and Gracia Gray, Elijah and Gabriel Levine - Brother: Lloyd Gray of Rockford, IL - Sisters: Arlene Rafdal of Titonka, IA, Lois Behrends of Algona, IA and Dorothy Huesman of Titonka, IA - Sisters-in-Law: Iola Gray of Kanawha, IA, Deanna (Duane) Swanson of Pine Island, MN, Linda (Dean) Meier of Cedar Falls, IA and Ellen (John) Laage of Fenton, IA - cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter, Angelyn, his father and mother-in-law, William and Oudie Betels - Brothers: Richard Gray, Vernon Gray, Lester Gray and Alvin Gray - Brothers-in-Law: Vern Rafdal, Marvin "Bud" Behrends and Meint Huesman - Sisters-in-Law: Iola Gray Steffenson, Ilene Gray, Irene Gray and Sharon Gray.