Obituary of Larry Douglas LaPlante

Larry LaPlante Larry was born June 4, 1941, in Spiritwood, SK, at the 7 Bar T Ranch. The family then moved to Chitek for a short time and then to Timberlost aka The Block, by the time Larry was 3. Larry had many relatives and made some lifelong friends at the block. By the age of 10, Larry was trapping and making his own stretchers for the pelts, and at 13 he had had enough of school and went to work in the bush for his dad first at the block in 1954 and then to Sled Lake in 56. Larry never really left the block returning to hunt and picnic as often as possible, he loved taking people out there and talking about the old homesteads and points of interest. Larry was a good shot, and he could gut a moose in 20 minutes if he had to. Larry started working at the mill in Big River in 1957. It was during his time at the mill that Larry got together with Elaine Mary Johnston. They had a son Kevin in 1964, a daughter Shelly in 1965 and a second girl Sherry in 1970. Larry and Elaine built a beautiful home on the lake in 1975 where they spent many hours together building the yard. Larry left the mill in 67 or 68 and worked for Max Wilson and after working for Max, Larry bought his first gravel truck from him. This was the beginning of Larry going into business for himself. He logged with his brothers Raymond and Gerald from 69 -75. When the brothers decided they were no longer going to log, Larry went into the road construction and maintenance business. Larry’s company was called Larry LaPlante Trucking until 1981, that’s when he brought his son Kevin into the business, it was now Larry LaPlante and Son Trucking. Larry worked on many projects over the years for the Dept of Highways where he made many friends. Larry was an easy person to talk to, he made friends wherever he went on the job or off. He loved his days working on road jobs, his favorite was always operating the loader. His nephew Gary and son Kevin joined him working on a job at Meadow lake in the summer of 81, Bob Dunn was also on this job. Tragedy would strike the family in the spring of 83 when Kevin was killed. In many ways, Larry’s life was changed forever his heart and his spirit were broken. Through time Larry somehow found the strength to carry on. Later that year Shelly married Richard Jezowski and in July of 84 Craig Kevin was born. Larry and Elaine were thrilled to have a baby in the family and spent as much time as possible with him. Larry and Elaine were so happy to have him in their lives- that little boy took a lot of their pain away. Shelly and Richard added another grandson to the family, Tyson Ronald in January of 88 both the boys were close with their grandparents. By 1993 the beautiful home that they had raised their 3 kids in and created so many memories, some of those memories made it too painful to stay there any longer. They brought in a new house across the road where Andy and Evelyn had lived years before but moved again onto a lot that at one point was owned by Elaine’s Dad Lyman Johnston across from the rink. Elaine’s health was starting to fail in 97, her cancer that she so courageously battled years before was back. On June 11, 1998, she would succumb to her battle and once again the family was devastated by a loss. Larry was hurt deeply but managed to keep the twinkle in his eye and a warm reassuring smile for his daughters and grandchildren. Larry continued to hunt and spend time out at the block and going to auctions and yard sales, he loved the treasures he found there. It was at one of these auctions that he ran into an old friend from his past and from that sale he took home an antique that he would cherish for the rest of his days. Larry and Louise and were married in 2005, their families became one family. They loved spending time with all their now large extended family traveling to, Jamaica, Mexico and Vancouver Island, late-night card games and stories of their past lives and making new memories with friends and family. Larry loved his family, friends, and his community. He made friends at work and at play, at yard sales and auctions, in his own back yard and wherever his travels took him, striking up a conversation with a total stranger came easy to Larry. He was truly a warm kind soul who at the drop of a hat would gladly help anyone. He will be missed by all. Larry will be lovingly survived by his wife, Louise LaPlante; his daughters, Shelly Jezowski-Balon (Dennis) and her children, Craig (JamiLynn) and children, Sorsha-Laine and Warwick; Tyson (Shae) and children, Chloe and Liam; Sherry LaPlante (Scott Hartnett) and their daughters, Kelly, Taylor, Abby, and Sienna; Sheila Muzechka; his siblings Evelyn Neufeld, Raymond (Colleen) LaPlante, Wilson (Rita) LaPlante, Angeline Boyer, Rita Arcand, Gerald (Rosemary) LaPlante; Louise’s daughters, Cindy (Rodney) Jonasson, Holly (Dave) McPhee, Penny Viden, and Bonnie (Michel) Mailloux; a very good friend, John Leck; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and many friends. Larry was predeceased by his son, Kevin LaPlante; his first wife, Elaine LaPlante (nee: Johnston); his parents, Hercules and Jean LaPlante (nee: Anderson); his brothers-in-law, Andy Neufeld, Wilfred Boyer, and Joe Arcand. The Funeral Service for Larry took place on December 6, 2019, at 2:00 pm at the Big River Community Hall with Delores Beaulac as officiant. In lieu of tributes, memorial donations may be made in Larry’s memory to the Parkview Wildlife Federation. Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home, Tammy Smart - Director, Shellbrook 306-747-2828.