Larry Owens

1948 - 2021

A loving husband and father and accomplished construction worker, Larry Mark Owens passed away unexpectedly on June 22, 2021 in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Larry was born July 17, 1948 in Idaho Falls, Idaho to Cecil and Bernice Owens. He attended Holy Rosary Catholic School and was a graduate of Idaho Falls High School in 1966. Upon graduation, Larry enlisted in the Army National Guard 116th Combat Engineer Battalion.

Before leaving for basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, Larry married Mary Jeanne Weiszhaar on October 14, 1967. The two met when he was a second grader at Holy Rosary and Mary was a first grader. They started their family In Idaho Falls. In August of 1968, Larry's Guard unit was deployed to Vietnam, where he served as a clerk in the Headquarters Company at Bao Loc, South Vietnam. He returned to Idaho Falls in August of 1969 and was honorably discharged from the Army in September of 1973.

Upon the end of his military service, Larry enrolled at Idaho State University, taking courses in general studies while working at a tire shop. He eventually decided upon a career as a union carpenter. He applied and was accepted to the Idaho Falls Carpenters and Millmen Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program in September of 1975. At the successful completion of the program, he became a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 609.

Around this time, Larry began looking for a new location to set down roots. Having visited Sandpoint, Idaho during family trips, he recalled the beauty of the area. When a longtime friend mentioned plans to build the Bristlecone Apartments on Pine Street there, Larry did not hesitate to relocate his wife and three children in August of 1978. Larry would go on to leave a legacy of construction in Sandpoint beginning in the 1980s, working on such iconic structures as the Long Bridge, the Cedar St. Bridge, and the Bonner Mall, to name just a few. It was during this time that Larry purchased land in Sagle, Idaho and built his family home.

As the construction boom in Sandpoint waned in the late 80s, Larry then commuted to the Spokane area for commercial construction work with Garco Construction and Lydig Construction. In 2002, Larry's career with the latter saw him return to the Sandpoint area to construct the White Pine Lodge at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, the first three complexes of Seasons at Sandpoint and what is now the University of Idaho Center for Organic Research. His career with the Carpenters Union ended in 2010 after the remodel of the Safeway store in Bonners Ferry was completed.

In retirement, Larry began volunteering at the Seneacquoteen Cemetery in Sagle, Idaho. He took great pride in the improvements he and others made in reclaiming the forgotten cemetery. He particularly enjoyed planning the annual Memorial Day Service, which included adorning the gravesites of military veterans with flags. In 2015, Larry's wife was diagnosed with COPD, and he provided compassionate care to Mary until her death on January 26, 2020.

Larry will be remembered for his honesty, integrity, strong work ethic, dedication to others, putting others' wellbeing before his own and for his service to God and his country.

He is survived by his mother, Bernice Owens; his four children, Anthony (Elsa), Christopher, Rosemary and Ethan; three grandchildren, Christopher (Brianna), Adrian (Gabby) and Aiden; one great-grandchild, Charlie; his sister, Rose (Karmin) Peterson, brother, Merrill (Christie) Owens and sister, Kathleen (Robert) Eldred; and many nieces and nephews. Larry was preceded in death by his father, Cecil Owens and his wife, Mary.

Larry will be interred at Seneacquoteen Cemetery along with his wife, Mary. There will be a celebration of life for both, the place and date of which will be published at a later date in the Bonner County Daily Bee. Family and friends are invited to sign Larry's online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.