Larry J. Goette

Larry J. Goette, age 70, Rosholt, passed away Saturday, June 8, 2019, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND.

Funeral services will be Friday, June 14, at 2:00 p.m. at Bethania Lutheran Church in Rosholt with Rev. Nancy Quatier officiating. Music will be provided by pianist Todd Quatier.

Burial will be in the New Effington Community Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Vietnam Veterans of America Northeast South Dakota Chapter 1054. Honorary pallbearers will be the Read-Veflin American Legion Post 180 of New Effington, the Fort Sisseton VFW Post 3342, DAV, and the Courthouse Crew. Active pallbearers will be Mike Goette, Keith Bostrom, Mark Schaunaman, Chad Ballhagen, Larry Fox, and Scott Mayou.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt. Visitation will continue Friday afternoon from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the church.

Larry James Goette was born January 3, 1949, in St. Paul, MN, to Willard William-Carl and Rose Ann (Hills) Goette of Sisseton. He was the oldest of five children. Dad attended school in Watertown and at the age of seventeen, joined the U.S. Army where he would serve eight years. He served almost three years in Vietnam (67-68, 68-69, 70-71) turning 18 and 21 in country. Dad's childhood was anything but easy, learning to become a man at an early age and experiencing the world at its worst, war.

These experiences, however, were never to be Dad's defining qualities or characteristics. After his honorable discharge from service in 1974, he explored the United States working with big cats in Florida, a theme park in Ohio, and several other fascinating adventures.

By the late '70s, Dad found himself in Watertown being invited to a church service that a pretty young lady was about to attend as well. As Mom would retell the story, Dad said (when he first laid eyes on her) "She will be my wife someday." And so, in March of 1982, Larry James and Susan Marie Stowe were married. While Dad and Mom were busy with three small children - Jessica, Aaron, and Jason, Dad worked at the Bramble Park Zoo in Watertown (loved his big cats) and studied late at night for nursing school. (Mom earned the honorary degree too as she stayed up all the late nights helping Dad study.) Dad graduated top of his class from Lake Area Technical Institute as an LPN. He worked in geriatrics at Ft. Meade Hospital in the Black Hills, as well as the Rosholt Nursing Home and Tekakwitha Nursing Home in Sisseton.

Dad felt that his calling for nursing had concluded, and he opened another chapter in his life as the Roberts County Veterans Service Officer (VSO). At this post, he would spend the next 19 years dedicating his time and energy to ensure ALL veterans were recognized, honored, respected, and given their due benefits and rewards. Dad never wanted recognition, praise, or reward for his service or the efforts he gave for others. He truly loved people and humbly cared for them, whether it be in nursing, as a VSO, or as a friend. Retiring from the courthouse was truly heartbreaking for Dad. He treasured the "Courthouse Crew," but knew this was another chapter to his story.

After retirement, Dad looked forward to making Ma's lunches when she came home from the Post Office and "puttsin" around the house. He was so proud of their camper, his little boat, and his newly elected position, Roberts County Commissioner. Dad just had to stay busy.

Although there was always something to do, nothing compared in this world to his wife, kids, and those grandkids. It was always Grandpa's boy or Grandpa's girl. I don't think we can ever understand how much dad loved his grandkids, or any little kid for that matter, especially babies. I do know this though, from the bottom of my heart, Dad loved the Lord God Almighty and was so thankful for his Grace. He knew that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who died for his sins, arose from the grave—defeating death, and is the only one who shall bring him to the Father.

Dad leaves behind his loving wife and best friend, Susan of Rosholt; daughter Jessica (Blaine) of Reading, PA, son Aaron (Kendra) of Fargo, ND, and son Jason (Lisa) of Aberdeen, SD; grandkids, Augustus, Charlie, Ethan, Ava, Gabriella, Torey, Abrams, and Jalissa; sister, Debbie (Larry) Fox of Iowa; and brother, Richard (Cindy) Goette of Watertown.

Larry is preceded in death by his father, Willard Goette; mother, Rose Goette Larson; stepfather, Francis Larson; brother, Kenny; and sister, Marlene.