Larry D. Henderson, 54

Larry D. Henderson, 54, died Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. Larry was born on Oct. 28, 1955, in Kalispell, to William E. Henderson and Joyce (McNeil) Henderson. He was preceded in death by his father; his second father, Bruce E. Pyles; and his brother, Russell E. Pyles. Joyce and Bruce were married in 1957, and the small family spent the first two summers of their life together at Big Prairie in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, where Larry s love of The Bob was born. Through the following 10 years, Larry was joined by a brother and three sisters. He attended school in Kalispell at Cornelius Hedges until the spring of 1967, when the family moved to Oregon. Larry attended two different high schools in Oregon, graduating from Union High School in 1974. After a short stint as a college student at Eastern Oregon State College in La Grande, he returned to Kalispell. He worked in the logging industry off and on in both Montana and Alaska. He loved Alaska and returned there several times over the years, working for loggers, on the pipeline, and on a commercial fishing boat. He was married for some time during those years. He and his wife owned and operated Imperial Outfitters, guiding hunters and fishermen in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The marriage ended and the business was subsequently sold. Larry loved horses and the outdoors; hunting, fishing, team roping, team penning and skiing were some of his favorite activities. Wherever he went, he always made friends. Larry never knew a stranger. He even made friends with some grizzly bears and enjoyed going to the bear park to play with them before they got too big. Larry is survived by his mother, Joyce Pyles of Columbia Falls; sisters, Laurie Pein and Joe of Columbia Falls, Carole Karberg and Dan of Eureka, Marie Hougeson and Frank of Battle Ground, Wash.; nieces, Amanda Treat and Hal of Columbia Falls, Aimee Moriarty and Todd of Columbia Falls, Andrea Briggs of La Grande, Ore., nephews, Russell Briggs of Columbia Falls, Brian Aster and Steven Hougeson of Battle Ground, Wash.; uncle, Keith McNeil and Marie of Kalispell; aunt, Carol Williams of Kalispell; assorted grandneices and nephew; and his very special friend, Debbie Brekke and her son, Ryan, of Kalispell. He also leaves behind his constant companion, Obie, who is now the official greeter at North Valley Ag Center. A memorial gathering and celebration of Larry s life will be held, potluck style, beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 5, at Woodland Park in Kalispell.