Larry Wayne Tillinghast

Larry Wayne Tillinghast passed away Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. Larry was born in Ogallala, Neb., to Bernard and Jacqueline Tillinghast. After his parents' divorce, he moved with his mom and stepdad to various ranches, eventually choosing Idaho as home.

As a child, the portion of his life that made the biggest impact was the time he spent on Joseph Plains. Larry was very proud of his upbringing in "the cowboy way." Due to the remote location of their home, Jacqueline homeschooled Larry during their years there. When the ranch sold, his parents moved to town (Grangeville), but Larry, who had completed his schooling at 15, wasn't ready to give up that life. He was hired by a rancher and was provided a house and pickup, even though he wasn't yet old enough to have his driver's license.

Larry eventually became a jack-of-all-trades. He was the chief of police in Cottonwood, he owned rodeo stock, was a logger, a mechanic, and worked his way through the ranks at Idaho Transportation Department where he was the Field Operations Manager for District 2.

Larry seemed to know everyone and made friends everywhere he went, fitting into almost every crowd. New friends sometimes meant new hunting ground, and that helped fulfill his ultimate goal to spend as much time as possible hunting and fishing. If he couldn't be out doing that, he and his son Cody were planning their next outing. If there was a body of water, Larry had to try and catch a fish, regardless of how many boats and skiers were passing by. To him, the word recreation meant to hunt and fish, not boat and ski.

Larry is survived by his wife Melody at their home in Pomeroy; sons Steven, Cody, Kyle and Kevin (with wife Kayla); daughter Katarina; stepson Jacob; mother-in-law Barbara; and one granddaughter.

Friends and family will be gathering in the mountains that Larry loved on Friday, Sept. 26, for a celebration of life. Larry recently told Melody that he would like to donate to the Ronald McDonald House in Spokane because his family utilized the facility during their time of need when his triplets were born. If you wish to send a memorial, please mail to: Ronald McDonald House, 1028 W. Fifth Ave., Spokane, WA 99204, or donate online at: rmhcinlandnw.org/memorial-gift.