J. Larry Passmore, 95
James "Larry" Passmore, 95, was born on May 21, 1929, to Harold and Bernice Andrews Passmore, the fourth of six children, Jean, Howard, Betty, Gilbert and Jessie, of Choteau. They moved to Pendroy, and were there during the depression; then to the Flathead Valley in 1936 to start the farm that remains in the family today. He went to Egan Elementary and graduated from Flathead High School.
Larry met Ruth Kao and they were married on July 17,1953. They raised four children, Mark, Kirk, Miriam and Pamela. In addition to developing the growing farm operations, he was 1958’s Outstanding Farmer, a deacon at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, and a member of the Creston volunteer fire department. In the early '80s they hosted a foster child from Vietnam, Bihn Vu who grew to call them "Mom and Dad."
After the children were grown, they began their yearly sojourns to Tanzania. Africa and its people stole Larry’s heart and he so enjoyed giving his time, talents and fortune to work on gardens and a coffee plantation to support the Masai Girl’s Lutheran Secondary School in Monduli. He went every January for several years, well into his 80s.
After Ruth died in 2010, He was lucky enough to meet Shirley Marstaeller from the Hamilton area, and they were married on Aug. 6, 2011. During this stage of life, the farmer turned gardener grew many tons of produce that were either donated to the local food bank, given as gifts to fellow church members, or sold and the proceeds generated were donated to the girl’s school in Africa. Shirley and Larry were active members at the Church at Creston and enjoyed many friendships in their community.
On July 17, 2024, he was welcomed into heaven surrounded by family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; sister, Jessie Gestring; brother, Gilbert (Janet) Passmore; sons, Mark (Cindy) Passmore, Kirk (Jo) Passmore; daughters, Miriam (Kirk) Ivey, Pamela (Mark) Rill; grandchildren, Michelle (Chad) Daman, Miles (Keri) Passmore, Rachael (Michael) Cole, Carissa (Scott) Carlson, Tana Rill (Tim Soderlund), and Laura (Andres) Preciado.
He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Ruth; sisters, Jean Iden and Betty Louden; and brother, Howard Passmore.
A memorial will begin at 1 p.m. on July 30, at the Church at Creston, 5447 MT Hwy 35, Kalispell. A private family burial will also take place at Fairview Cemetery in Columbia Falls.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Operation Bootstrap Africa, 5701 Kentucky Ave. North, suite 200, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55428.
We would like to also extend our thanks to Logan Hospice, they do an extremely difficult job and do it with such love and care.