Larry Gene Rector, 78, of Kemmerer, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, Oct 8. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at the South Lincoln Training and Events Center in Kemmerer.
Larry was born on June 9, 1941, in Rushville, Nebraska, the second son to Earnest and Ina (Fankhauser) Rector. After living in Mullen, Nebraska, until Larry finished the third grade, the family moved to Edgemont, South Dakota, where Larry met his future bride, Sandra Dawes.
Larry graduated from Edgemont High in 1959, and he and Sandy were married on Aug. 7, 1960, and made their home in Vermillion, South Dakota. Larry earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Dakota in 1963.
They welcomed their first child, Teri, in July of that year and the family moved to Brookings, South Dakota, where Larry earned his master’s degree from South Dakota State University in 1964. Larry was an outstanding college athlete, earning national honors in track and field.
Two more children, Tim and Tamara, joined the family in 1966 and 1970, respectively. Larry taught high school in Tracy, California; Hay Springs, Nebraska; and Bayard, Nebraska; before moving to Kemmerer in 1984. There he taught math and coached for 20 years before retiring in 2004. Throughout Larry’s coaching career, his teams in track and field and cross country won numerous state championships. Larry enjoyed the Kemmerer schools and community greatly. In his retirement, he enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as attending school events and traveling to see his grandchildren’s various activities.
Larry is survived by his wife, Sandy, of Kemmerer; daughter, Teri (JD) Versaw, of Omaha, Nebraska; son, Tim (Tammy) Rector, of Mandan, North Dakota; and daughter, Tamara (Jeff) Roberts, of Concordia, Kansas. Larry is also survived by four grandchildren, Erin (Rochester) Mugumbate, of Bismarck, North Dakota; Thane Rector, of Mandan, North Dakota; Cierra Roberts and Brady Roberts, of Concordia, Kansas. Larry leaves behind a brother, Gary (Bonnie) Barstow, of California; and brother-in-law, Jim (Vonnie) Dawes, of Lehigh, Kansas, along with many cousins, nephews, nieces, friends and former students and athletes.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Earnest and Ina Rector; and sister, Ardyce (Stan) Schumacher.
