PIERRE, SD – Larry J. Venner, 90, of Pierre, passed away Sunday, March 24, 2024 surrounded by the love of his family. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00am, Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church with interment following at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held the evening prior, 5:00-7:00pm, Monday, April 1, 2024 at Feigum Funeral Home, concluding with a Wake Service and Rosary at 7:00pm.

Lawrence Joseph Venner was born on September 26, 1933, in Pierre, South Dakota to Lawrence and Rose Venner. Raised on the family farm near Agar, Larry’s early life was rooted in the values of hard work and community. As a student at Agar High School, he excelled in basketball and track before graduating in 1952 and then continued to work on the farm. His commitment to his country was evident when he joined the Navy submarine service in 1954, serving with distinction off the coast of Washington, and as a radioman in Adak, Alaska, where he intercepted foreign messages and communicated distress signals. His honorable discharge in 1958 marked the end of a chapter of service that would help shape his character for the rest of his life.

Upon returning to civilian life, Larry balanced farming with education, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from South Dakota State University in 1963. His passion for teaching and agriculture led him to a career in education, where he inspired countless students as a high school vocational agriculture teacher in Wessington Springs from 1963 to 1970. His pursuit of excellence continued with a Master of Education from SDSU in 1968.

Larry’s dedication to vocational education blossomed in Pierre, where he developed the Pierre High School Vocational Agriculture program and the local Future Farmers of America chapter in 1970. Under his leadership, the Pierre FFA achieved remarkable success and his influence helped shape the future of many young agriculturalists. Within 3 years of its start, the Pierre FFA ranked in the top 4 of every judging category, and by 1975 when Larry concluded his teaching career, he had led several students to achieve their State Farmer Award and one student to become a FFA state officer. His exceptional contributions to vocational education were recognized with multiple awards, including Regional Vo-Ag Teacher of the Year (six state area) and South Dakota Vocational Teacher of the Year in both 1973 and 1975. In addition Larry served as President of the South Dakota Vocational Association and served on the board of Directors of the South Dakota Education Association.

A pillar of the community, Larry’s commitment to public service was unwavering. He served as Deputy Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Agriculture from 1976 to 1979, where he contributed to vital initiatives such as the Drought Task Force and the Council on the Future of Agriculture. His career in agriculture continued when he accepted a position in 1979 as a District Sales Manager for Funk-G Hybrid/Ciba Geigy Seed Division from which he retired in 1999. After retiring from full time employment, he served as a Hughes County commissioner and worked at Feigum Funeral Home and McCarty Farms.

Larry’s life was enriched by his marriage to Lillian Schlenker in Henry, SD on January 9, 1960, with whom he shared 39 years of love, raising a family of seven and instilling in them the importance of their Catholic faith and the joy of the outdoors. The family created many treasured memories camping, fishing, building the garage, working honey bees and bird watching. After Lillian’s passing in 1999, Larry found another life companion in Alice Donovan. They married in 2000 and shared over a decade of travel and family gatherings until her passing in 2013.

Those who knew Larry will remember him as a storyteller with an endless supply of anecdotes from his rich life experiences. His love for traveling, camping, bird watching, and gardening were matched only by his keen interest in current events and his ability to engage and educate on a wide array of topics.

Larry is survived by his children: Steve (Lisa) Venner of Spokane Valley, WA, Marty Venner of Tehachapi, CA, Eric (Rae) Venner of Sioux Falls, Carrie (Craig) Howard of Pierre, Bruce (Heather) Venner of Pierre, Jesse (Oksana) Venner of Rapid City, and Jonathan Venner of Rapid City; 14 grandchildren; two sisters: Dolores Morgan Evans of Mellette, and Madonna Leimer, of Paynesville, MN.; along with Alice’s children and a host of extended family members and friends.

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