Lary J. Marthaller, 81, Dickinson, died Sunday, September 15, 2019 at Sanford Health Bismarck. Lary’s funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 20, 2019 at Hillside Baptist Church, Dickinson with Pastor Jeff Morton officiating. Interment will follow at the Dickinson Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the Dickinson American Legion Post 3 Honor Guard. There will be a gathering of family and friends on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Lary Joseph Marthaller was born January 11, 1938 at Regent to Alvin and Katherine (Kuntz) Marthaller. He attended school in Regent until 1956 when he enlisted in the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force he specialized in aircraft and engine mechanics, this being a course for selected airmen. He specialized in the B-29 as a mechanic. He was then transferred to weather reconnaissance, stationed in Bermuda for two years. Then he transferred to Moses Lake, Wash. to Larsen Air Force Base and from there was discharged in 1960.

In April 1961 Lary married the love of his life Carolyn Duckwitz in Hebron. They lived in Dickinson where he worked for Bison Clay Factory for three years. During this time their first son Marcus was born on their first anniversary. Then in 1964 they were blessed with another son, Mickel.

It was while working at Bison Clay that he was hired at Boeing Manufacturing in Renton, Wash., which meant a major move to Washington state. He worked there nine years until being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. When he could no longer work for Boeing, he enrolled in Green River Community College in Auburn, Wash. specializing in body and fender. His counselor suggested that he move back to North Dakota to be closer to family and build a handicapped home. In 1974 their home was completed and they have lived there since.

Over the years, with his body and fender skills, he restored two beautiful cars. The first a 1953 Ford Skyliner Convertible painted red, such as the car he had when he met Carolyn. The other was a 1957 Ford Fairlane 500, restored to yellow and black just as the car he drove the family to Washington in 1964. He enjoyed this very much.

He was a member of Hillside Baptist Church and the Disabled American Veterans. He enjoyed NASCAR, yard work and playing cards. Lary loved the Lord with all his heart and we know he could never have endured his life with MS without Him.

Lary is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carolyn; son, Mickel (Pamela) and granddaughter, Ava, all of Minneapolis; brothers, James (Regina), Bismarck, Stanley (Mary), Bismarck, Robert (Twila), Bismarck and Myron, Orange, Calif.; brother-in-law, Don Wagondorf, Regent; sister-in-law, Bev Marthaller, Dickinson; and numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, Marcus; brother, Marvin (Ida); sisters, Marlene Wagondorf and Rosalie Burwick; and his parents.