Larry Svenningsen

Larry Lyle Svenningsen, age 81, passed away December 26, 2023, with his wife of 35 years by his side.
Larry was born March 20, 1942, in Cooperstown, ND to Svend Svenningsen and Emma Johnson. He grew up with his brother Howard, sister Robin and step-siblings Mick and Nan. Larry attended and graduated from Noltimier School. After graduating, he served six years in the Army National Guard.
Larry met Carmen and they were married November 10, 1988. Together Larry and Carmen planted, combined, and calved on Svenningsen Farms. Larry loved his wife Carmen and the life they created. Their farm became the central hub for their family. His grandchildren spent many nights at the farm growing up, bottle feeding calves, riding four-wheeler, watching movies from his massive video collection, exploring hidden areas of their old farmhouse, and running lunches to the field when he'd radio in. He got a kick out of giving tractor rides to his great grandchildren and even bought extra ice cream to have in the freezer for when they came to visit.
Larry is survived by his wife Carmen and three stepchildren Robin, Rowena, Reese; brother Howard; sister Robin and step-brother Mick. He is a grandpa to six, great grandpa/papa to five, and has many nieces and nephews.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents, step-mother Shirley and step-sister Nan.
He was best known for his love of farming. Larry was a farmer who loved to work the earth and raise cattle. The country was his home. He loved John Deere tractors, his farm dogs and cows, planting trees, shopping for clothes, word searches, driving his truck down gravel roads, working in his shop, and a good buffet. He was a stubborn farmer who had a really high standard of how things should be done when it came to his farm work. He worked hard for what he had and he took immense pride in what he did.
This old farmer is loved and will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
A funeral service will be held Friday December 29, 2023, at 1pm at Our Saviors Church in Valley City, ND. The visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. The burial will be at Woodbine Cemetery, Valley City in the spring.
In lieu of giving flowers, the family asks for donations instead to be made to Prairie Paws Rescue in Jamestown, ND to support Larry's love of animals.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com.