Larry Winegar

Larry Winegar, 65, passed away at his home in Kalispell on Monday, Sept. 5.

He was born May 28, 1940 in Omaha, Neb. to Louie and Loretta Naylor. They later divorced and Loretta was remarried to Jim Winegar who adopted Larry and his siblings.

As a child he lived in Omaha; Fairmont, Minn.; several towns in the Portland, Ore. area and to moved to Columbia Falls in 1956 at the age of 16. He quit school and went to work as a logger.

In 1961 he married Sharon Farley and moved to Kalispell. They had two sons, Jimmy and John. In 1964 they moved back to Columbia Falls where Larry was working at the mill.

In 1973, Larry took a job with Alaska International Airlines as a loadmaster and lived in Fairbanks, Alaska. This job took him all over the world.

In 1978, after being divorced, diagnosed with kidney disease, broke and very unhappy with the man he had become, Larry accepted Christ at the Columbia Falls Assembly of God. Larry was the recipient of a kidney transplant and was able to return to Alaska and his work for the airline. Larry became involved in church at Fairbanks Assembly of God and became a partner in a gold mine in the Fairbanks area. In 1992 Larry retired to Columbia Falls because of continued kidney problems where he continued to be active in church work by helping start Crossroads Church in Columbia Falls. Before his illness, Larry was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing, hunting, motorcycles, and gold panning.

His parents precede him in death.

He is survived by his sons, Jim of Kalispell; and John Winegar of Havre; sisters, Nancy and husband Ken Simantel of Columbia Falls; Judy and husband Frank Sizemore of Columbia Falls; Charlotte Rawlings of Oroville, Calif.; brothers Steven Winegar of Clarkson, Wash.; Curtis Winegar of Portland, Ore.; and Mike. His granddaughter Emily Winegar of Havre and numerous nieces and nephews also survive him.

Pastor Rich Cloyed officiated a memorial service that was held on Friday at Crossroads Church. Memorials can be made to Crossroads Church.