LARRY W. SCHOLZ

Larry Wayne Scholz, 64, of Helena, died of an apparent heart attack Monday, Aug. 22, 2011, in White Sulphur Springs. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Monday, August 29, 2011 at McGilley & Frye Funeral Home-Olathe. Graveside Services will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. Larry was born Feb. 4, 1947, in Kansas City, Kans., to Herbert and Lyda (Lee) Scholz. He graduated high school in 1965 from Enterprise Adventist Academy. His mother wanted him to be a minister and his father wished for him to be an attorney, so he went to the University of Minnesota, where he earned his bachelor's degree in mortuary science in 1969. Larry married his high-school sweetheart, Shirlayne Niedens, in 1970. Shortly thereafter, he began his funeral service career, serving the community of Olathe, Kans., with his father- in-law, Wayne Niedens, at Olathe Memorial Chapel. In 1982, he acquired Eddingfield Funeral Home in Williams, Ariz. A supply salesman shared with him an opportunity in the great northwest. That is when he visited the beautiful state of Montana and met Kenneth Twichel and Myron Wetzel. Larry struck a deal with these gentlemen in 1991 and purchased Connors, Twichel and Perkins Funeral Homes, where he was now the hometown undertaker for Townsend, White Sulphur and Harlowton. In 1997, he added Big Timber to his service territory with the acquisition of Lowry Funeral Home. He later opened Big Sky Cremations in East Helena and most recently opened Twichel Funeral & Cremation Service in Helena. All the while serving these communities, he was involved with the Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, Lions Club, Rotary International, Chamber of Commerce, Montana Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Larry thoroughly enjoyed his work and caring for his townspeople throughout his 42- year career. Beyond funeral service, he enjoyed collecting and tinkering with cars, mowing the grass, eating fruit, chewing the rag with anyone who would dare, boating, water skiing and snowmobiling with his boys and romancing new business opportunities. He will be most remembered for his caring nature and heart of gold. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, and an infant brother, Herbert. He is survived by his companion and business partner, Donna Amaro, of Helena, Mont.; three sons, Jason Scholz, of Denver, Colo., Justin and his wife Rebecca Scholz, of Olathe, Kans., and Jared and his wife Amanda Scholz, of Kansas City, Mo.; daughter Sarah and her husband John Bush, of Tulsa, Okla.; and nine grandchildren: Ben, Noah, Jayna, Miles, Aiden, London, Cadence, Rilo, and Hagen. Dad, we will truly miss you and will always remember your smiling face! McGilley and Frye