Lawrence Hugo Borgerding

Lawrence (Larry) Borgerding, 98, of Rolla, Missouri, passed away peacefully at home on March 18th, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Marthasville, Missouri, on March 10, 1927, Larry grew up in Dutzow, Missouri, working on the family farm with a strong sense of faith, family, and dedication to hard work. He graduated from St. Francis Borgia High School in Washington, MO, in 1945. Shortly after, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, completing basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before being stationed in Germany during World War II. He served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), contributing to critical intelligence efforts during the war.
Upon returning home, Larry pursued higher education through the GI Bill, graduating in 1951 from the Missouri School of Mines (now Missouri University of Science & Technology) with a degree in Mining Engineering, with a Petroleum option.
In 1954, while in Mitchell, South Dakota, he met the love of his life, Patricia Moran. A year later they married in Woonsocket, SD, and spent 69 years together as a shining example of love, faith, and commitment, raising 9 children, and moving 20 times across the country for Larry's career, before finally settling in Rolla.
Larry had a distinguished career with the U.S. Geological Survey, beginning in 1951 in Rolla, MO. As a field engineer from 1951 to 1964, he had numerous assignments across the US, surveying and mapping in multiple states. In 1964 he moved to Washington, D.C., where he served in a managerial position in the National Mapping Division. Over his career, he held roles such as Chief of the Branch of Planning, Chief of the Branch of Programming, and Deputy Chief of the Office of Plans and Program Development. In 1976, he was selected as Assistant Chief of the Mid-Continent Mapping Center in Rolla and was appointed Chief in 1977.
A registered Professional Engineer in Missouri, he was a member of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, serving as National Director for the Rolla Region of ASPRS. His professional accolades included the Geological Survey Special Achievement Award (1973), the Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award (1974), the Department of the Interior Distinguished Service Award (1981), and the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive (1988), the highest honor given by the U.S. Dept of the Interior. In 1989, he was recognized for 40 years of service upon his retirement. After his retirement Larry was able to use his years of mapping experience consulting on a project to help the community develop a new system of rural addresses so emergency responders could more quickly locate addresses and find people in need of emergency services.
Beyond his career, Larry was deeply devoted to his Catholic faith, actively participating in his parishes, including St. Patrick in Rolla, and Holy Spirit in Annandale, Virginia. He was a long-time active member of the Rotary Club, enjoying the opportunity to give back to his community. He found great joy in his family, golf, and his beloved St. Louis Cardinals. He also loved to work on outdoor projects, combining his farming roots with his analytical and engineering mind. His enjoyment of golf remained strong well into his later years-he made his first hole-in-one at age 80 and followed it with another at 85.
Larry was a loving husband, father, brother-in-law "Borgie," uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Lawrence was preceded in his death by his parents, his 11 siblings, and his daughter, Karen Shore. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and 8 children, Michael and wife Teresa, Winston-Salem, NC, Joseph and wife Dorothy, Blackstone, VA, Annette Hutton and husband Walter Hutton, Lebanon, MO, Bruce, Rolla, MO, Bryan and wife Cynthia, Lee's Summit, MO, Timothy and wife Sharon, Sugar Land, TX, Kevin, Steamboat Springs, CO, John and wife Lisa, Austin, TX, his son-in-law, Mark Shore, Kansas City, MO, 27 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren, all of whom will cherish his memory and the lessons he taught them with his dedication to his faith, his family, and the way he approached all aspects of his life with integrity and humility.
A funeral mass for Lawrence H. Borgerding will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Rolla. A graveside service will follow at 2:30 p.m. the same day at the St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery in Marthasville, MO. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, March 28 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla. A rosary service will take place at 4:30 p.m. prior to the visitation.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Patrick Church, St. Patrick Food Pantry, or Russell House in his honor.
His legacy of faith, dedication, and love will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him.