Lawrence "Larry" Windus, 74, Minot, died Monday, Oct. 12, 2009, in a Minot hospital.

Lawrence Stuart "Larry" Windus was born Aug. 10, 1935, a son of Robert F. and Edna D. (Chatel) Windus, in Roseau, Minn. He was raised and educated in Red Lake Falls, Minn. He graduated from Red Lake Falls High School in 1954.

Lawrence enlisted in the Air Force on Jan. 31, 1955. While serving in the Air Force, he was stationed at Duluth, Minn., where he met and married Shirley J. Rosen on July 2, 1960. They were later stationed at Bitburg Air Base in Germany, K.I. Sawyer AFB in Michigan, Wurtsmith AFB in Michigan, Elmendorf AFB in Alaska, Lowry AFB in Colorado, and in 1974, became stationed at Minot Air Force Base, where he retired as a master sergeant. He was honorably discharged Jan. 31, 1981.

While serving his country, Larry took several college courses toward a business management degree. Following his honorable discharge, he finished his college courses at Minot State University, where he graduated with a business management degree in 1982.

Following his graduation from MSU, he started working at the service center at the YMCA and continued to work there until his retirement in January 2009.

He was a member of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.

He enjoyed leather work, gardening, camping, reading, and his H.O. scale model trains he put together.

Larry was always there for his family. He especially enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Surviving family includes: wife of 49 years, Shirley, Minot; sons, Larry Windus, Minot, Robert (Nicole) Windus, Germany, and David (Theresa) Windus, Ames, Iowa; daughters, Barbara (Marc) Adolf, Colorado, and Susan Ternes, Minot; grandchildren, Hannah, Johannes, Mariam and Pascal Windus; Bonny, Michael, and Brad Rubash; DuNette, Sa-sha and Kira Ternes; and Lacey Bahr, Amber VanLeuven, Brandon and Matthew Windus; great-grandchildren, Ayden and Mason Vider, Kaytlyn and Madison Rubash, Carthan Ternes; Bruce VanLeuven; and John Bahr.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Edna Windus.

Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at 10 a.m. in St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.

Interment: Friday, 3 p.m., at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Visitation: Today, Oct. 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. in Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Vigil prayer service: Today at 7 p.m. in Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).