Larry Tollefson

Larry D. Tollefson, 71, Mandan, passed away Aug. 12, 2018, at a Bismarck hospital, with his wife and daughter by his side. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at Christ the King Catholic Church, Mandan, with Msgr. Chad Gion as celebrant, and The Rev. Donald Gion assisting. Burial will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, with full military honors. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan. 

Larry was born in Dickinson, on Sept. 4, 1946, to Amos and Phyllis (Chase) Tollefson. He grew up in Regent, and graduated 13th in his class from Regent High School. He joined the U.S. Navy in September 1965 and served as an electrician aboard the USS Bugara and the USS Razorback, both diesel submarines. He served four tours during the Vietnam Conflict and was honorably discharged.

On March 7, 1970, he married Catherine Lauber. His electrical training in the military qualified him as an apprentice electrician. He began his career in Dickinson while Cathy finished college. In 1979, Larry became an electrical contractor and opened Larry's Electric of Mandan. He retired in 2012 and enjoyed wintering in Arizona. Larry never met a person he didn't call a friend and loved to share his passion for hunting and fishing. He was a talented knife builder and a wonderful storyteller.

Those who mourn his passing include his wife of 48 years, Cathy Tollefson; daughter, Bethany (Rob) Hillenbrand; two grandsons, Tyler and Ryan Hillenbrand; brothers, Doug (Julie) Tollefson and Phil (Bev) Tollefson; sister, Sharon (Bruce) Schueller; mother-in-law, Dorothy Lauber; and many nieces and nephews.

Larry was preceded in death by his son, Robert; his parents, Amos and Phyllis Tollefson; and his father-in-law, William Lauber.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.