WICHITA – Larry R. Deines, 83, died Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.

He was born August 21, 1942 at Quinter, Kansas the son of Lawrence and Freda (Dietz) Deines.  He was raised on a farm just inside the Eastern Gove County line 3 miles north of Castle Rock.   He attended 8 years of grade school in a one room school in Gove County graduating in 1956 and graduated high school at Collyer High School, Collyer, Kansas in 1960.

After working at several different jobs, he entered the U.S. Army in 1962

And was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas for most of two years until discharged in 1964. During that time, he participated with 50,000 other troops in "Operation Big Lift" in 1963 to test our readiness to deploy to Germany where U.S. had equipment pre-positioned for emergencies. He worked as a welder and grain elevator employee upon returning from the military.

On April 10, 1971 he married Sandra Lynn Greer in Watonga, Oklahoma.

He entered Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma 1973 and graduated with Bachelor of Science in December 1975 from College of Agriculture. He worked for Farmland Industries Feed Division upon graduation where he worked in feed sales and later in production at the Dodge City Feed Mill and even later feed quality control before 2000 when the Feed Division was merged with Land of Lakes.

He became a wonderful wood-worker and thoroughly enjoyed it after he retired. He built many of the furniture pieces that are now in the house.

One of the things he missed doing was going down to Arkansas to go fishing. They caught a lot of trout on the White River but he didn't like the fish (didn't cook it very often), but he sure did like catching it.

Survivors include: his wife of 54 years, Sandy; 4 grandchildren; and his sister, Bonnie Strait, Jamestown, Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Erica Mills, a brother, Leon Deines and a sister, Doris Kraft.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 am Monday, November 3, 2025 at Woodridge Christian Church, Wichita, with Pastor Bob Gleason officiating.  Visitation will be from 10:00 am to service time at the church.  Burial will be in the Kansas Veterans Cemetery at WaKeeney, Kansas at 1:00 pm Tuesday, November 4, 2025 with military honors by KSARNG Honor Guard.

The family suggests memorials to Woodridge Christian Church in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.  Condolences may be sent to www.zieglerfuneralchapel.com