Larry Bennett

LARRY BENNETT

Cedar Rapids

Larry Bruce Bennett, 71, of Oro Valley, Ariz., formerly of Cedar Rapids, died suddenly Sept. 12, 2015, in Minneapolis. Larry was on his way back to Tucson, Ariz., after a visit to friends and family in Iowa and Minnesota. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion with a visitation one hour before the service.

Larry leaves two daughters, Jessica Bennett of California and Traci (Jeff) Schultz of Connecticut; a son, Matthew (Sarah) Bennett of Colorado; two stepchildren, Lisa Kroll (Travis) of California and Andrew Whitney of Minnesota; brother, Charles (Connie) Bennett of Marion; niece, Susan Bennett of Marion; three nephews, Scott (Jeri) Bennett, Dr. David (Janet) Bennett of Cedar Rapids and Thomas Bennett of Duluth, Minn.; five grandchildren; and many of other relatives and friends to mourn him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Richard; and sister-in-law, Lois Bennett, all of Cedar Rapids.

Larry was born in Cedar Rapids to Charles and Florence (Freeman) Bennett on March 17, 1944. In 1962, he graduated from Washington High School, where he was involved in music and drama. As a young man, he was a featured player in many Cedar Rapids Community Theater productions.

Larry worked as a buyer and merchandise manager for Younkers Department Store in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines for 15 years. He then moved to Minneapolis and became a wholesale sales represent-ative, man-aging his own firm. Later, he owned and operated several Curves for Women franchises in Chaska, Minn., and Tucson, with his wife and daughter.

In retirement, he followed his longterm interest in Native American culture and formed Sacred Bear, an internet company selling Southwestern jewelry.

Larry was a delight. He loved the Southwest, fishing, reading and dogs. From Puppy through Libby and several others to Cody, a Sheepdoodle he brought with him on his last visit to Cedar Rapids, they were a part of his life. Larry loved to host parties. He also was writing a book about Judah, son of Jacob.

Intelligent, enthusiastic, attractive and incredibly charming, Larry could draw you into an unbelievable tale and when you bit, it was his "gotcha."

Goodbye, Larry. If only we could tell you how we will miss you.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association.

Please share a memory of Larry at www.murdoch funeralhome.com under obituaries.