Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series:
Tribute
Folder:
DIG
Item:
271212
Title:
Larry Schwab
Date:
5/28/1928-4/23/2024
Creator:
Inscription/Marks:
5/28/1928
Summary:
Larry Schwab, 95, of Strasburg, ND, passed away April 23, 2024, at the Strasburg Care Center. Mass of Christian burial was held April 29, 2024, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Strasburg. Burial was at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery.
Larry was born May 28, 1928, to John and Magdalena (Baumgartner) Schwab in Strasburg, ND. He was raised on the Schwab homestead in a sod house along with his nine brothers and sisters.
Larry was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, a grain and dairy farmer; a proud military veteran, a musician and band member, a woodworker, and a community and church volunteer who willingly shared his time and talents.
Larry, who didn’t have a middle name, began playing piano for weddings and dances along with his dad and brothers, when he was just 9 years old. Larry had lost part of his right-hand ring finger in a farm accident when he was a young boy, and that is how he acquired the nickname “Gootsie.” He was known as a nine-finger piano player! He never had a music lesson but could play anything on the piano by ear.
Larry married Evelyn Welk on a beautiful Indian summer day on November 14, 1950, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Strasburg. Larry entered the Army in March of 1951 and served until March 1953. He was a proud military veteran and was an active member of the Strasburg VFW and Linton American Legion. Larry served as commander and marched in parades, participated in military funerals, and helped with community events such as Easter egg hunts for children well into his 80s. Memorial Day was one of his favorite holidays.
Larry and Evelyn bought and moved to a farmstead west of Strasburg where they raised their six daughters. Larry always said that “Girls were better than boys!” Larry only attended school through the 8th grade but took pride that all of his children and grandchildren earned a college education.
Larry was a talented piano player in the popular Bubbling Quintet Band. The band provided musical entertainment for weddings, anniversaries, and family celebrations for decades. The band was honored to perform at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, in 1975 and at the International Polka Fest in Kitzbuhel, Austria, in 1978. You can still enjoy videos of their music on Youtube!
Larry and the band were usually booked for dances on Friday and Saturday nights. He would often get home at three or four in the morning, sleep for a few hours, and get up to milk the cows and then attended Sunday Mass. Sunday afternoons usually included a long nap.
Larry was a lifelong member of Sts. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church. He was a church usher, and he was always ready and willing to help with whatever needed to be done in his faith community.
Larry had an appreciation for preserving information from years gone by. He participated in one of the Germans from Russia programs produced by Prairie Public Television where he shared memories of the Bubbling Quintet through the years. He spent countless hours helping and volunteering at the Welk Homestead, as well as preserving the Schwab Homestead.
Larry loved to garden and shared his produce with members of the community and Care Center. He opened his land to pheasant hunters and welcomed them into his home for coffee, kuchen or his famous “red eye” whiskey. He enjoyed refinishing furniture in his retirement years.
Larry loved to play cards and was a savvy Profranz and blackjack player. He loved Mountain Dew! After retirement, he worked for the Soil Conservation Office planting hundreds of trees. After the band no longer performed, Larry continued to entertain the residents of the Care Center and volunteered to play music for community events such as Sauerkraut Days, Grandparents Day at the Strasburg School, the Senior Citizens Center, and the Emmons County Museum.
After Larry became ill, he was cared for by his wife until he entered the Strasburg Care Center in July of 2023. His family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care he received from the staff.
Larry is survived by his wife, Evelyn; his daughters, and their families: Michele and Paul Olson, Langdon, ND, Laura and Ralph Towery, Bismarck, ND, and their families Brenton and Kaitlyn Green and their children Juliet and Genevieve, Dane and Becky Towery and their daughter Evelyn Kate, Kim and Bob Knutson, Bismarck, and their families, Chad and Justine Knutson and their children Madelyn and Bobby, Jesse and Jade Knutson and their daughter Amelia and Brooke and Jesse Smith, Dana and Mark Kramer, Strasburg and their children, Mason, Logan, Madelyn and Tyler Schwartz and their son Graham, Delrae and Gary Hulm, Linton, ND, and their children Annalee and Colin, and Cathy and Jeff Larshus, Bismarck and their daughters, Abby and Micah.
He is survived by his sisters and in-laws: Florence Klein and Jerry Klein, Irene Lipp, Laverne and Jim Feist, Antonia Baumgartner, Betty Covey, Adeline Schwab, Edna Schwab, and Gloria Meier, and many nieces and nephews.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, Mike and Catherine Welk, infant son Baby John, Joe and Imogene Schwab, John, James and Clarence Schwab, Clara and Jim Huber, Lee Baumgartner, Lewis and Roya Welk, Richard and Diane Meier, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Red ID: FND_I_78701 Image ID: 511377 Image Notes: FND001 271212
