Lawrence Clarence "Larry" Hortsch

Lawrence "Larry" Clarence Hortsch, age 94, died peacefully at Ecumen/St. Benedict Community in St. Cloud on March 19th, 2026, with family by his side.

Larry's funeral mass and celebration of life will be Thursday, April 9th at 10:30 AM at the Ecumen/St Benedict Community located at 1810 MN Blvd SE, St. Cloud, MN.
Visitation starts at 9:30 AM until the time of service at 10:30 AM.
Lunch will be served immediately following the service.
Fr David Grundman will preside over the mass with Larry's cousin, Fr Bob Harren, as concelebrant.

Larry was born August 9th, 1931, at home on the family farm in Buckman MN. He was the third of five children born to Frank and Barbara (Lange) Hortsch. His oldest brother, Leon, and he shared the same birthdate of August 9th, which was special for the two of them. He attended Melrose High School for two years then dropped out when he was needed at home to help on the family farm and later worked in the grocery store owned by his parents. He did later receive his GED. Larry served in the US Army in Oakland, CA before returning to Greenwald to help his father run the family grocery store.

After the military Larry met the love of life Adeline "Addie" Agnes Barhorst of Melrose at the Spring Hill Dance Hall. They married on April 21,1956, at St Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. They were married 53 years before her passing in 2009. For 25 years Larry and Addie owned and operated Hortsch's General Merchandise Store in Greenwald before selling and moving to St Cloud in 1972. Together they raised two children, Cheryl and Ken, and enjoyed many family vacations over the years. Larry said his favorite travels with Addie were a two-week Mediterranean Cruise and a 10-day Panama Canal Cruise. After retirement they wintered in Scottsdale, AZ spending time with Addie's sister and brother-in-law, Leone and Andy Weinzierl, his aunt, Bertha (Forrest) Henderson, and other family and friends.

When Larry and Addie moved to St Cloud in 1972, he worked as a wholesale grocer for Gamble Robinson for 20 years, reaching the $1,000,000 mark in sales. He sold to District 742, local restaurants, and universities. Cheryl and Ken thought it cool when having lunch at school and they'd bump into their dad in the cafeteria. Larry developed many lifelong friendships from these business relationships. In retirement, he enjoyed golfing with his wife and friends and worked two part time jobs. He was a greeter at Daniel's Funeral Home and a bailiff at the Stearns County Courthouse for 10 years.

He was an active member of St Peter's Catholic Church in St Cloud. His Catholic faith was at the core of who he was. He served as an usher, acolyte, lector, and on the parish council. He attended daily mass after he retired and helped Addie at the local food shelf. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles #622, the American Legion in Waite Park #428 and the Knights of Columbus #5548.

Larry was kind and generous of heart to those around him. He was outgoing and would greet everyone with a smile. If he hadn't heard from you in a while he would call you, especially if it was around your birthday. He was a devoted husband, father and friend. He loved his children and delighted in his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He enjoyed taking his family out to eat at various restaurants and his grandchildren whenever they came for a visit.
At St. Benedict's, Larry and "the boys" enjoyed each other's company and were weekly regulars at many St. Cloud pubs and restaurants.

Larry was preceded in death by his wife Addie in 2009, parents Frank and Barbara,
brothers Leon and Lambert, sister Luella Marthaler, in-laws Bernard "Ben" and Rose Barhorst, sisters-in-laws Faye Hortch and Leone Weinzierl, and brothers-in-law Andy Weinzierl and Virgil Marthaler. He is survived by his children Cheryl (Len) Fox, Savage MN and Kenneth (Ann) Hortsch, Eagan, MN, grandchildren Ben (Allie), Callie, Julia, and Max Fox, Sara (Bill) Flint, Rachel, Lauren and Ellen Hortsch, great grandchildren, Callen and Grayson Fox, and Kelsey, Cerissa and William Flint, his youngest brother Vern (Maria) Hortsch of Tacoma, WA and many nieces and nephews.

Private Interment with family at Fort Snelling National Cemetery with full military honors on Monday, April 13th, 2026.

A special thank you to the staff at St. Benedict's Community and Ecumen Hospice for their unwavering support and care this past year.

Any memorials given will be shared equally between the Benedictine Sisters of St Scholastic of St Cloud MN and the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls MN