Larry Leonard Kragh

To view a livestream of the service access: https://www.mtmsales.net/thomas
To view the flowers from Larry's service, click here: Larry Kragh Flowers
Larry "Popsi" Kragh, 80, Minot, North Dakota, died peacefully surrounded by family on February 22, 2024.
Larry was born in Minot in 1943 to Ludvig 'Louie' and Marie (Holmes) Kragh. He would be the last Kragh raised on the original homestead plot near Mouse River Park. The family 3 would move to Northwest Minot in the mid 40's. Shortly after, their family would become complete with the addition of his sister Joann. These yet developed hills of Minot would spark a lifelong love for the outdoors. He often spoke of skiing "right to his house" and hunting and fishing in the area. During these early years, his father would instill a work ethic that was unrivaled, and his mother would implant a competitiveness that would carry with him until his final moments. His mother would also play a pivotal role in introducing him to what would become another of his lifelong loves, bowling.
Popsi wouldn't meet his "true" lifelong love, Kathy Caley until years later while working at Chateau Lanes. They would marry in 1973, have 2 kids, numerous pets and countless memories. They were lucky enough to have celebrated 50 years together in 2023.
Popsi was blessed with 5 children, Stuart (Rhonda), Lenore (Paul), Jeff (Jenny), Ryan (Bev) and Chad (Malinda), numerous grandchildren and multiple great grandchildren.
Larry's work ethic was evident in his jobs. He would hold multiple jobs in the bowling industry, work as a machinist for Burlington Northern and finish by working over 20 years with the Minot Public School (bus driver, grounds crew) and Amtrak (machinist).
Over the years, Popsi had many hobbies. He was a great softball player into his 50s, a great bowler into his 70s, a good golfer into his 80s and average fisherman the whole time. His accolades in bowling are unparalleled. Placing him in both the state and city hall of fame. He will go down as one of the best to have ever done it in the state of North Dakota.
We will miss Popsi every day. His memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him.
Larry is survived by: Wife of 50 years Kathy; Children: Stuart (Rhonda) Kragh, Lenore (Paul) Schlichting, Jeff (Jenny) Kragh, Ryan (Beverly) Kragh, and Chad (Malinda) Kragh; Sister: Joann (Dave) Schmaltz; First Wife: Jacky Morris; Grandchildren: Bret Kragh, Quintin Kragh, Nick (Kaila) Behles, Jacob Behles, Jordan (Whitney) Schlichting, Dusty (Lauren) Schlichting, Josh (Sabrina) Kragh, Jamey Kragh, Mariah (Austin) Haley, JD Kragh, Makenna Elert, Brecken Gruenzner, Raiden Gruenzner, Colemann Kragh, and McKinnley Kragh; Great-Grandchildren: Graecyn and Brynlee Behles, Ripley and Easton Kragh, Parker, Kingston, Austria, Cambree, Khora, and Kate Schlichting; and his faithful companion Kirby.
Larry was preceded in death by: Parents: Ludvig and Marie Kragh and Granddaughter: Chelsea Kragh.
Celebration of Life for Larry "Popsi" Kragh: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, Minot. To view a livestream of the service access: https://www.mtmsales.net/thomas
Visitation: Tuesday, February 27, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to an organization of the donor's choice in memory of Larry.
Eulogy from Larry's service:
Larry "Popsi" Kragh was born in Minot in 1943 to Louie and Marie Kragh. He would be the last Kragh raised on the original homestead plot near Mouse River Park. A product of the silent generation, he would have a typical childhood for the era and although it was difficult, he would seldom talk of any hardships and change the conversation to a lighter subject if it was brought up. It was during these early years, his father would instill a work ethic that was unrivaled, and his mother would implant a staunch competitiveness. These traits would be the driving force for his success for the rest of his life. The family of 3 would move to Northwest Minot in the mid 1940's. They would begin their life in a small one-bedroom house mere feet from where we stand today. Shortly after, their family would add another room and welcome his sister, Joann.
The yet developed hills, visible from just outside these doors, would prove to be the perfect environment to spark a lifelong love for the outdoors. He often spoke of skiing, right down those hills and right to his front door. There was a community garden nearby where he and his mother would grow fruits and vegetables. He would hunt this area, turning pelts into Porter Brothers for extra spending money. He would fish, I can't say with certainty how many fish were caught, but I think it's safe to say there were a fair number of sticks taken out of that river.
He would start his schooling at Minot's oldest standing school, Roosevelt Elementary and If you're curious how old the oldest school in Minot is... yesterday Roosevelt had a celebration for their 100th year. A celebration we had hoped to take him too. While at Roosevelt he would discover his ability to create wonderful art. Art that he would continue to make well into his 70's. In 6th grade he would even be recognized for one of his pieces. A pen drawing of a cowboy on a bucking horse on yellow paper. Popsi loved the rodeo. As a child he would attend with his father and as a father he would attend with his children. Even going to the Calgary Stampede with Ryan last summer.
After Roosevelt he would become one of the 1st classes to attend the newly built, but still unfinished, middle school, Erik Ramstad. His educational journey would be complete in 1961 when he would graduate from Minot High School, which at the time was housed in what is now Central Campus. I can only imagine the relief he would have felt the day he graduated. To say that Popsi wasn't a fan of school would be a gross understatement. More than once he said, had they not allowed him to take extra art classes, he may not have finished.
It was also during these years when he would develop a passion that would last him his whole life. His love of sports. Endowed with his mother's competitiveness and father's work ethic, Popsi would excel at sports from the very beginning and continue to excel well into his later years. He was a great softball player into his 50s, a great bowler into his 70s, a good golfer into his 80s and average fisherman his whole life. His favorite sports as a kid were baseball, basketball and football. Hockey was too cold for him and a fall through the ice, while taking a short cut across the river, would instill a fear of water that would rule out swimming. Over the years he would be forced to stop playing both football and basketball for different reasons. Although he loved playing football, his father did not want him playing, and made his feelings known. Popsi, your typical teen, would sneak over and play at Roosevelt park. His budding football career would end abruptly however, when he saw his father leaning against a tree off in the distance. The coach would do his best to convince Louie to let him play. But without health insurance (Louie didn't believe in it) and a child that had already broken his arm multiple times, it was not in the cards. His basketball career started while at elementary school and despite showing promise it would end in middle school when the newly built school would prove to be too far of a walk in the cold North Dakota winters.
Baseball would be the only sport that would stick with him. He would eventually transfer his baseball skills over to the fastpitch diamond. Where he would go on to catch some of the greatest fastpitch pitchers Minot has ever seen. He would play on many winning 7up teams. As his fastpitch career would wind down he would switch over to slow pitch softball. He was a prolific high ball pitcher and as accurate as they come. One of his favorite memories of slow pitch would occur years later, when he got to play on a team with 3 of his sons.
I feel it was these cold winters that would drive him to indoor sports. And although the location changed his dominance did not. He would hone his billiard and dart skills in the basement of the pool hall on Central Avenue. He would be introduced to bowling by his mother, Marie. He would tag along with her as she bowled league at Minot Bowling Lanes. While watching his mother bowl, he would be offered his first job by Lois White. That first job... a pinsetter. Not only did Lois give him his first job she also taught him to bowl... And the rest, as they say, is history. His last name would become synonymous with bowling in Minot and in the State of North Dakota. He would spend the next 60 years involved in the sport. He would work in different facets at every bowling alley in the city. He would host the Silver Dollar Bowling Bonanza, a weekly bowling show airing on Saturday nights. He would own his own bowling pro shop and he would help coach youth bowlers. He would even pass down his bowling skills to his family. So much so that his wife Kathy and his children, Stu, Lenore, Jeff, all accompany him in the City of Minot Bowling Hall of Fame and Lenore, Jeff, Kathy join him in the state Bowling Hall of Fame. I know having his family with him in the hall of fame meant the world to him. I'm also positive that it would bring him joy to know that these won't be the last Kragh's to go into a bowling Hall of Fame.
The last name Kragh is so engrained in Minot bowling, that I bet you would have a hard time not seeing the name somewhere at North Hill Bowl. His accolades in bowling are unparalleled. Popsi's success on the lanes is special and his influence on the game in the state of North Dakota is immeasurable. He would often proudly boast about having won every tournament there was in the state. These are some of his prouder bowling memories. He would have 18 -- 300s, 1 – 800, he would win the "Big 3" three times, lead the US Open after the first round and he would briefly own a world record for cumulative team score with his Mr. Steak team. Another of his favorite memories that bowling afforded him, was when "Morrie" Anderson invited him to see Elvis Presley in Vegas. Music played a huge role in my dad's life; I can only imagine how excited he must have been to see the "King". I can't recall a time in my childhood when my father didn't have music on. A trait that still exists in me and I have since passed it on to my children. Besides the King, some of his favorites were Journey, Meat Loaf, Del Shannon and Prince. I still smile when I think of his golf game improving when "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey would come on.
Elvis once sang...
Wise men say
"Only Fools Rush In"
But I can't help
Falling in love with you
Take My Hand
Take My whole life too
For I can't help
Falling in love with you
Lar would "rush" in, twice in his life.
First on April 25th, 1964 with his first wife, Jacky. Marriage would prove too difficult a task for the two of them, but it would be responsible for blessing them with three wonderful children... Stu, Lenore and Jeff. I hope you know how much he loved you three and your families. I know it was difficult for Popsi to show emotion and express his feelings but the way he would speak of all of you, you could tell it was with immense pride and genuine love.
His 2nd "rush" in would occur on July 26th, 1973, in this very church, Larry would marry the love of his life, Kathleen Erin Caley. Popsi couldn't help falling in love with her while both were working at Chateau Lanes. Her in the restaurant and him at the front desk. I can still picture Popsi's crooked smile as he would describe how angry my mom used to get when he would order chocolate shakes. Their marriage would produce 2 children (Ryan and Chad), 3 cats, 5 dogs and countless number of memories. The couple were lucky enough to have celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2023.
After many years spent working in the bowling industry, Popsi would switch careers and become a machinist for Burlington Northern railroad in the 70s. Ironically, he would hear of the available position while bowling league and would have to rush over to BN first thing the following morning, to secure the job. A relocation to Glendive, Montana years later would put an end to that career. The early 80s would see his final career switch. He would be hired by Minot Public Schools to drive bus and mow lawns. His feelings on bus driving were indifferent, but if you ever observed the grass fields around the schools during the 80s and 90s you knew he loved mowing lawns. During his tenure at MPS he would pick up a 2nd job, as a machinist for Amtrak. Popsi would go on to have a love hate relationship with Amtrak. He loved fixing trains and would take pride when he fixed something the "big" cities couldn't. The extra income was also nice, but the extra hours and the harsh North Dakota winters could be unbearable. What he probably hated about Amtrak most though... was having to bowl out or leave a sporting event early, just to go down there and have it be late.
I had previously mentioned Popsi's work ethic, it was never more evident than in his work. For years he worked 12-hour days, just to wake up and do it again. He often joked that he couldn't wait to retire and sit and watch TV all day. He did end up watching his fair share of the Price is Right, to which Kath can attest to, but it was also during his retirement that his love for fishing returned. He would also become more serious about golf. A sport he would "enjoy" until his last round in September of 2023, at the age of 80.
So in closing...
There's a verse in a Jay Z song that goes as follows:
As the father passes his story down to his son's ears
Younger get younger every year
So if you love me, this is how you let me know
Don't ever let me go,
that's... how you let me know
So, I will leave you with this. Like most of you I loved my father very much. And it pains me to think about having to physically let him go. Mentally, I will forever hold on. I ask that you do the same. When you hear Don't Stop Believing, sing along with him, When you leave a ringing ten pin, just push your hair to the side and pick it up, when your fishing and you get snagged, turn the boat around for him and when you're golfing at Souris and you see the huge tree right in front of the tee box of hole 8, bring an axe and chop it down. As a person who had "slight" slice, Popsi hated that tree and was truly sad when it survived the flood. So, if you see a golf ball around said tree, know that he hit that "damn" tree again and enjoy a golf ball on him. Finally, when you're driving through this area and by this church, I hope you'll take a second and look around and picture a young Popsi just starting his life. It brings me tremendous joy to think about celebrating him in the area that was so important in molding his future. By doing all these things we can ensure that we never let him go.
Safe Travels Lar!