Larry Joseph Ries, 71

Larry Joseph Ries passed away on January 9, 2023 at his home. Funeral services were held on January 14th in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Atkinson, NE. Burial was in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Atkinson. Larry was born July 15, 1951 to George and Gladys Ries in Atkinson. He attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School where he graduated in 1969.

On October 7, 1978, he married the love of his life, Linda Lee Claussen, and together they welcomed 6 beautiful children. Larry worked his entire life ranching. In 2002, life led him and Linda to South Dakota to run the Majestic Ranch, owned by Richard Galyen. They made South Dakota their home until 2008, when they found their way back to Nebraska to build their family’s forever home on his ranch north of Atkinson. Larry had four loves in his life; his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and his ranch. Larry’s most precious gifts and most prized possessions were his 23 grandchildren. He loved spending any time that he could with them, especially when teaching them about his favorite hobbies.

Larry loved gardening. He spent much of his summers moving around his sprinklers and rocking in his chair watching his garden grow. In the later days of summer and beginning of fall, he enjoyed canning with the family. He was always proud of his beautiful garden, most specifically his corn that grew “shoulder high by the 4th of July”, and the bountiful crop it provided to help feed his entire legacy – 37 hungry mouths. You were always sure to hear “Did you get some corn?” from him every evening before leaving his house. He loved taking the kids out to cake the cows, watching them pick mulberries off the tree from his rocking chair, and spent countless hours with a lap full of children playing I Spy.

Larry enjoyed watching the sun rise and set every day, always with a cup of coffee in his hand, his bride by his side in the mornings, and his favorite neighbor in the evenings. His family is so proud of his many talents. He built a beautiful addition onto their family home to accommodate the ever growing family out of trees from their ranch. He did beautiful wood working, building special gifts for family. He had a gift with his hands, whether he was building with them or holding a baby. He spent countless hours patting baby bottoms to soothe them to sleep, and it always worked. He was an immense part of every life he touched, and leaves behind a huge hole in the lives of those who love him. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

Larry is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Lin; son, Bryan Slaymaker (Amber) of Atkinson; daughters, Brandi (Jason) Mitchell of Atkinson, Lisa (Shawn) Alder of Atkinson, Jenni (Dan) Ruda of Atkinson, Jamie (Dirk) Mitchell of Atkinson and Rebecca Ries of Lincoln; his 23 grandchildren; sisters, Betti (Jim) Troshynski of Atkinson, Bonnie Brown of Lincoln, NE, Carol Ries and Everett of Stuart; brothers, Jack (Kathy) Ries of Shoreview, MN, Jim (Lois) Ries of Canby, MN; his mother-in-law, Zoe Claussen of Atkinson; and a very large extended family, countless friends and neighbors, and Olaf, his shop cat.

He was proceeded in death by his grandparents, George and Emma Ries and Mary and John Pruss; his parents, George and Gladys Ries; sisters, Marilyn Kruntorad and Janice Ries; brother-in-law, Wayne Kruntorad; father-in-law, Harold Claussen, Sr.; and his beloved puppy “Dawg”.