Larry Ralph Whitney, 85

Larry Ralph Whitney, born Aug. 30, 1936, to Ralph and Alice (Mock) Whitney of Ferndale, Montana, died Jan. 8, 2022, at Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell, not far from the now old Kalispell Hospital, where he was born.

Larry’s first home was the original Ferndale School house. In 1941, Ralph and Alice moved Larry, his big brother Weston and baby sister, Sharon to Port Orchard, Washington, to join in preparations for the second World War. Larry grew up in Port Orchard and Bremerton, and graduated from Bremerton High School in 1955. He attended Olympic Community College in Bremerton for two years and then Central Washington University in Ellensburg, where he earned both a Bachelor and a Master of Arts in Education degree.

Larry started teaching and coaching in Kittitas County, Washington, before moving his family to Gig Harbor, Washington, where he taught fourth and fifth grades until he retired. In the summers Larry shared his love for the outdoors with his family in the Olympic National Park where he worked as a park ranger.

After retirement, Larry came full circle back to Bigfork where he and Mary built their home on Carney Meadow near where his family’s dairy farm once was.

He is survived by his wife Mary, sons Jeffrey Robert, Neal Ralph, and Daniel James, and grandchildren Patrick, Rachel, Alexandra, Jack and Riley.

A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. June 25 at the Bigfork United Methodist Church.