Larry F. Laveroni, 90, passed away on February 15, 2017, at a care facility in Bozeman, MT. Larry was born on October 30, 1926 in San Juan Bautista, CA, the third child of Joseph and Madeline Laveroni. In 1943 he left school at the age of 16 and enlisted in the United States Navy.
Two days later he was in boot camp in Farragut, Idaho. Later in life, it would become a passion of his to attend the annual reunions at Farragut State Park. During World War II he served as a signalman aboard the USS Prairie (AD-15) primarily in the Marshall Islands. Upon his discharge from the Navy in 1946, he returned to his hometown of San Juan Bautista where he began his 35-year career with Ideal Cement Company (Holcim).
Soon he met and married Fern they had three children, Dennis, Keith, and Lynn. In 1972, the Ideal Cement Company plant in San Juan Bautista was closing and he chose to relocate with the company to Montana. After a couple of years in Montana, he married Anita and they began their life with Anitas daughter, Sabrina. In 1981, he retired from Ideal and had various jobs/businesses over the next years including egg delivery, building fireworks stands, and small engine repair, but he truly loved his last job as a greeter at Costco Wholesale.
In 1987, Larry and Anita moved to Belgrade, MT where Larry was well known in the neighborhood for his beautiful flowers and garden. Many will remember being invited to his home for barbequed chicken with his secret sauce, pinto beans, French bread, and macaroni salad. In his later years, he continued his love of woodworking, crafting beautiful diamond willow canes, birdhouses and furniture, as well as rock jewelry, which he sold at craft fairs in the area. He never missed an opening day of hunting season and continued to hunt well into his 80s.
Larry was especially proud of his military service and was often seen wearing his VUMS (Veterans of Underage Military Service) hat with all his pins from the many reunions he attended with this group all over the country. He is survived by his wife, Anita; sons, Dennis Laveroni and Keith Laveroni (Barbara); daughter, Lynn Neilson; stepdaughter, Sabrina Robinson; sister, Lorraine Regas; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Kenneth Laveroni and Robert Laveroni. A sincere thank you to the staff at Spring Creek Inn Memory Care for their thoughtful care the last few years. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, March 10, 2017 at Fort Harrison Veterans Cemetery in Helena, Montana. Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service. www.dokkennelson.com
