Lawrence E. Moran, age 73, of Dell Rapids, passed away Friday, Jan. 17, 2014 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at Basham Funeral Home in Woonsocket with a viewing starting at 10 a.m. A lunch will immediately follow the service at the Woonsocket Community Center.
Larry was born on Aug. 14, 1940 in Woonsocket to Francis and Bertha (Ritter) Moran. He graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1958, where he was the homecoming king and earned his nickname, Mighty Might, for his tenacious basketball skills. He then attended Northern College in Aberdeen. While there he met the love of his life, Beverly Kraft. They were married Aug. 11, 1962.
After teaching and coaching for a couple of years, Larry and Bev settled down in Aberdeen to raise their three children. Larry then began his insurance career at the Dakota Farmer where he advanced to vice president. In 1983, Larry and Bev started their own insurance brokerage company, Moran Industries. Tragedy hit in 1989 when his precious wife suffered a brain aneurysm and fell into a coma. Larry stayed by her side and dutifully cared for her for eight long years. After Bev’s passing, Larry moved to Dell Rapids and opened Chateau de Moran, a woodworking and antique store.
He is survived by his three children, Shannon Moran, Dell Rapids, Lance Moran, Sioux Falls, and Tohni (Dean) Hendrickson, Ballwin, Mo.; three grandchildren; seven sisters, Cecelia (Leon) Williams, Columbus, Neb., Rose Moran, Woonsocket, Pat (Larry) Borgerding, Rolla, Mo., Mary Carol (Denny) Gere, Pierre,  Lynn Moran, Lea Moran   and Geraldine Moran all of Mitchell; two brothers, Jim (Donna) Moran, Woonsocket, and Dan (Trudy) Moran, Madison; a sister-in-law, Nathlee, Huron; and a brother-in-law, Carney, Mitchell.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one sister, Maggie; two brothers, Matt and Tommy; and his precious niece, Karen.