Lawrence Burtts

1952 - 2025

Lawrence Burtts
April 26, 1952 - December 8, 2025
Lawrence (Larry) Dean Burtts, age 73, of Fort Pierre, SD passed away on Monday, December 8, 2025 with family by his side at the Avera Doughtery Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD, after a short courageous battle with metastatic lung cancer; recently being diagnosed November 7, 2025. Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, December 12, 2025 at Feigum Funeral Home with visitation an hour prior, 12 to 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery.
Larry was born to Harold Walter and Rosemary Cook Burtts on April 26, 1952 in Bismarck, ND. He grew up in Pierre. Attended country school in his elementary grades and graduated from T. F. Riggs High School in 1971. Following high school graduation, Larry made a career working in the construction field, building homes, cabinet making, and for 15 years before retiring at age 68, applying his construction skills as well as his artistic talent working for M & R Signs. Larry was a hard worker and took great pride in his jobs, making sure everything was precise and perfect. He was always meticulous in all endeavors he pursued.
Larry married Merry Kirley of Pierre in 1972 and later divorced. They were blessed with daughter Christine. His life was complete when he met his hunting and fishing partner Debra (Debbie) Miller in 1979 and they married September 1, 1990. Debbie was an outdoorswoman who loved hunting, fishing, and camping right along with Larry. They made many memories together with their hunting and fishing adventures in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Black Hills, Yellowstone, and throughout Montana and South Dakota. Larry loved all the dogs Debbie would bring home, and spending time in the country with the horses. Larry enjoyed traveling after retirement to Tennessee to visit his nephews and families, visiting the Nashville Ryman Auditorium and sites, and Black Hills fishing, with his last trip July 2025. Getting together with his daughter Christine and family brought him joy; as well as many family gatherings for holidays, special occasions, or just catching up to visit.
Larry's dad taught him at a very young age how to hunt and fish. He spent many years as a fishing guide in the Pierre/Ft. Pierre areas in his younger years. Growing up and into his adult life Larry enjoyed being with his family and friends hunting and fishing, especially with his brothers Robert and David (Willie); as well as tinkering around with anything that needed fixed. He was a gun expert and enjoyed his hobby of fixing and building guns. His artistic talent was always shown on each and every gun he made. Larry continued his passions of fishing, hunting, gun making, target shooting, and spending much time with his nephews showing them his guns or taking them fishing and hunting. He enjoyed camping, trapping, and gold panning. Larry took pleasure in the simple things in life. He was a talented artist, carpenter, mechanic, machinist and gunsmith. He enjoyed the challenge of trying to figure something out and then repairing it. Larry was very athletic in his school days, excelling in baseball, track and basketball. Larry enjoyed cooking; family gatherings; watching tv westerns, rodeos, sports and politics; country music; getting together with his coffee buddies; riding his motorcycles; telling stories of his many adventures; and spending time at M & R Signs with his best friend Steve Malsam-Rysdon. He was a kind, talented, intelligent and compassionate man, with a gentle soul. Larry accomplished a lot in his life. Larry was a man of few words, but know you were all loved by him.
Larry is survived by his daughter and family, Christine Christopherson and husband Troy; and grandchildren, Blake, Julia and Malori; siblings and their families: Caroline (Thad) Uecker, Mary (Ron) Wire, Daniel (Bill) Burtts Provance, Lena (Tyler) Hammell; brother-in-law, Steve Miller; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Larry was preceded in death by his wife, Debra in 2016; parents, Harold and Rosemary Burtts; brothers, Robert and David Burtts; sister, Katherine Burtts; and parents-in-law, Richard and Maxine Miller.
Memorials may be directed to Countryside Hospice, 415 S. Crow St., Pierre SD 57501. Larry's service may be viewed online and condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.feigumfh.com.