Larry Heinrich

Funeral services for Larry S. Heinrich, age 83, of Billings, will be 10:00 am, Thursday, June 22, 2023 at Hunter United Methodist Church with Rev. Jim Edmison officiating. Burial with military honors provided by the United States Army will follow at the Billings Union Cemetery under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on Wednesday, June 21st at the funeral home.

Larry S. Heinrich was born November 25, 1939 in Okeene, Oklahoma to Samuel E. and Emma (Ehrlich) Heinrich, and passed away Sunday, June 18, 2023 in Enid. He attended school in Carrier, and graduated from Ames High School in 1958, where he was active in the Future Farmers of America. He grew up on the family farm in the Ames area where he learned to milk cows from an early age because his brothers were fighting in WWII. After high school he had a construction job building elevators, he worked on building the Meno Grain Elevator. He had a milk can route for Gold Spot Dairy in Major County. He picked up milk cans from the farm and hauled to Gold Spot in Enid. He served his country in the National Guard from 1962 to 1968. During this time, he farmed with his brother Robert and started an oilfield dirt construction company with Robert, called Heinrich Brothers Dirt Contractors. In 1970 they sold out of the oilfield business and bought land in the Billings area and started farming. Shortly after this, Larry and Robert started Heinrich Implement Company and Allis Chalmbers Farm Machinery Dealership west of Billings. Later Larry sold his interest to Robert so he could concentrate solely on farming and ranching with his family. Through the years, he served on boards and worked in his community to make it better for everyone.

In the winter of 1976-1977, he took a part-time job running a scraper, constructing Sooner Lake, over by Red Rock, Oklahoma. In 1980, during the gas price surge, with his mechanical abilities, he installed propane system on approximately 100 pick-up trucks, for the the local gas station/propane dealer. Many neighbors relied on his mechanical abilities to help the keep their farm equipment up and running. His mechanical abilities were passed down to his son and grandsons, as later in life, his joy was restoring the antique Case Tractor, with family, to be shown at shows and to be used, still till this day, in the family farming operation.

He married Sonja Sue Ott on April 10, 1963, and they had two children, Tim A. Heinrich and Stephanie R. Heinrich. They were happily married for 45 years before Sonja’s passing in 2008. They enjoyed farming and ranching, and raising the family together.

Larry is survived by his children, Tim A. Heinrich and wife Debbie, of Billings-Garber area; Stephanie Heinrich of, Billings;

four grandchildren; Michelle Jones and husband John, of Ponca City; Luke Peat and wife Heather, of Hunter; Baxter Heinrich and Carissa, of Blackwell; Garret Heinrich and wife Allison, of Billings; seven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild also survive him. Larry is also survived by one sister, Joyce Helmer, of Barstow, California and one brother-in-law, Ted Wiser, of Clovis, California. He is preceded in death by his wife Sonja Sue; parents Samuel E. and Emma Heinrich; brothers, Cletus, Robert, Fillmore and Gilmore (Pete) Heinrich; two sisters, Imojane Harris and Shirley Wiser; he is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews who are scattered all across the USA.

Memorial contributions in Larry’s name may be made to the Hospice Circle of Love or the OMRF Alzheimer’s Division with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.

Condolences may be made, memories shared and services viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com.