John L. "Larry" Thiery

John L. (Larry) Thiery, 86, passed away peacefully January 6, 2026 at his home in Willmar in the care of Hospice. Funeral services will be later in the spring. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Kandiyohi County Historical Society, CentraCare Rice Rehab or Hospice, or Plankinton, SD Hotel Preservation Society.

John L. "Larry" Thiery, was born in Mitchell, SD, March 26, 1939. He was adopted shortly after birth by John P. and Laura (Schuldt) Thiery and was raised on a farm near Plankinton, SD. Larry joined the South Dakota Army National Guard as a high school senior in 1957 serving in various units in South Dakota until 1964. Following his high school graduation in 1957, he went on to Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, graduating in 1961 with a BS Degree in Biological Science and Business Education, beginning his teaching career in Presho High School from 1961-64. Larry received his master's degree in science from Colorado State College in 1965 and began teaching at the University of North Dakota-Ellendale Branch from 1965-69. He became an instructor at Willmar State Jr College in 1970, retiring from Ridgewater College in 2000 after 30 years. While at Ellendale, Larry met the love of his life, Delphine Fiechtner, and was married December 26, 1970, being blessed with two boys, Rick & Bryan.

Larry loved to travel and with his small family took many trips within the US and in 1979-80 was able to take a year's sabbatical supplementing his education at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN. This year allowed more travel to visit more of the Eastern US. Retirement allowed spending 20+ winters as snowbirds in Ft. Myers Beach, FL, cruising in the Caribbean along with world travels to Europe, Israel/Egypt, Australia/New Zealand, China, and Russia. Larry enjoyed fishing, hunting and living in the country on the 5-acre farm site outside of Willmar for over 48 years, digging in the dirt garden, planting trees, fixing buildings, riding his tractors and 4-wheeler, raising honeybees, sheep, hogs and chickens and just plain putzing! Always a farmer at heart, he loved teaching and sharing his love of nature with his grandchildren. He loved all things science and enjoyed all his years of teaching which gave him such satisfaction, especially the dedicated and motivated nursing students. Following death, his donated body continues to educate students in study and research at the U of M Anatomy Bequest Program.

Volunteering was part of his life/retirement helping at St. Mary's, Rice Hospital, American Heart Assn, giving blood and becoming involved with Let's Go Fishing in the summers.

Survived by his wife of 55 years, Delphine (Del), son, Rick of Alexandria, Bryan (Angela) of St. Michael, daughter-in-law, Jenny Olson Thiery of Alexandria and foreign exchange student family of Wilco Pontvuyst of Holland; grandchildren: Katelyn, Kendall, Isla, Hank, and Maris Thiery along with the Pontvuyst family/wife/children in Holland-Marielle, Marek, Joran and Lauren, brother-in-law, Floyd Fiechtner, many cousins, nieces and nephews and many dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Laura Thiery, sister-in-law, Connie Fiechtner, and brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Carol Bottchen, niece, Kim Bottchen Meyer, and foreign exchange student, Wilco Pontvuyst.