Lawrence Stimac

Lawrence "Larry" Stimac, 88, of Great Falls, a retired Fuller Brush representative and World War II Army Air Corps veteran, died of natural causes Sunday at a local hospital.
Visitation is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at O'Connor Funeral Home, with a vigil at 6 p.m. Sunday in O'Connor Memorial Chapel. Funeral Liturgy is 11 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, with burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery. O'Connor Funeral Home is han-dling arrangements.
Larry was born the last of nine siblings to Matt and Mary Stimac, on a family homestead 6 miles west of New England, N.D., minutes after his twin sister, Lillian. He was raised on the homestead and attended a one-room school until eighth grade. At age 14, Larry was offered the family farm after his father moved to Great Falls to join other family members. Alone, and with land that was filled with sand dunes and grasshoppers from the dust-bowl era, Larry declined the offer and also moved to Great Falls, where he graduated from Great Falls High in 1941. Follow-ing high school, Larry worked at the Anaconda Copper Mining Company in the zinc plant.
In April 1942, Larry volunteered to take the place of his brother, Carl, who had been drafted to World War II. Larry joined the Army Air Corps and, after receiving 22 weeks of train-ing at Sheppard Field, Texas, to become an airplane and engine mechanic, sailed the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to India on the Ile de France, a luxury ship made into a troop transport ship during WWII. Larry served 29 months overseas at Chabus and Jahore, India, where he attained the rank of staff sergeant and served as a crew chief on a C-87 Liberator transport plane. In addition to maintaining inspection routines, changing engines and accessory replacements on his C-87, Larry flew the Assam China route, making 14 flights over the "Hump" (Himalaya Mountains) and working in a combat zone for eight months. After completing his orders in India, Larry returned to Great Falls East Base - now known as Malmstrom Air Force Base - where he continued as an airplane technician until his honorable discharge in October 1945. For his military service, Larry received four Overseas Service Bars, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze Stars, one Service Stripe, a Good Conduct Medal and a Distinguished Unit Badge. In July 1988, Larry received a pair of wings from the Chinese Air Force in recognition of outstanding personal and professional achievements in military aviation for the service he provided during WWII.
Upon completion of his military career, Larry continued his educa-tion at Great Falls Commercial College, where he obtained a two-year degree in bookkeeping. Larry then went to work as a bookkeeper for Gamble Robinson in Great Falls, and then as a credit manager for B.F. Goodrich in Great Falls, and then in Butte.
While working in Butte, Larry drove back to Great Falls every weekend to court the love of his life, Elizabeth "Betty" Smarker, whom he met at a singles group at St. Ann's Cathedral in Great Falls. On June 13, 1953, Larry and Betty married at Holy Family Church in Great Falls. Larry and Betty returned to Butte, where Larry managed a service station for a short period of time.
In late 1954, Larry, referred to by many as "Larry, the Fuller Brush Man," began his career with the Fuller Brush Company as a door-to-door salesman of brushes and household products. After having sales areas in Butte, Billings and Bozeman, Larry and his family returned to Great Falls, where he continued his career until the day he passed away. In addition to selling to many customers in Great Falls, Larry worked "country" routes, which included from Great Falls to Fort Benton, Geraldine, Chester and north to the Canadian border, Belt, Highwood and east to Stanford and the White Sulphur Springs area. In May 2010, Larry received his Fuller Brush pin for 55 years of distinguished service. Through his job, Larry met many loyal customers and friends, with whom he was able to share his jokes and stories.
With Larry's faith in God, he was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes and Holy Spirit parishes. He was a member of the Sons of the Pioneers and the Great Falls and Montana Senior Citizens. Larry was a very social person who was frequently seen attending city commission and neighborhood council meetings, Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center functions and senior citizen activities.
In addition to telling jokes and stories, Larry enjoyed traveling to see family and friends, polka fests, camping trips in the trailer, fishing, yard work and tinkering around the house. Larry loved his family and enjoyed his grandsons, especially on holidays and at birthdays, school programs and sporting events.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth "Betty" Stimac of Great Falls; his sons, Larry R. Stimac and Mike (Kandace) Stimac, and grandchildren, Tan-ner, Zachary, Noah, Joshua and Nicholas, all of Great Falls; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews, and their families.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Matt and Mary Stimac; his sisters, Sophie Klemencic and Lillian Pearse; and brothers Mike, Frank, Carl, Emil, Tony and Jim.
The family suggests memorials to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Holy Spirit Parish or a charity of your choice.
Condolences may be posted online at www.oconnorfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.