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When
the subject of my dad, Larry, comes up with family or friends, I almost always
hear, "He was a really good guy!" I
really feel my dad made a difference in our small town of Rexburg, Idaho. He was an insurance agent for State Farm
for many years, and he received calls day and night to help people with
their car accidents, home emergencies, and other personal problems associated
with their insurance coverage. My
dad was a very spiritual man as well and enjoyed serving in our church. He was
also a Boy Scout leader, and I know those in his Troop really looked up to him.
He was definitely an inspiration to
me as I worked to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
My dad was also very generous and giving. He enjoyed the outdoors and was willing to share his boat for church youth activities. He was an excellent water skier. In fact, I was a little jealous that he could ski slalom, as well as backwards, but I could never reach his level! He was also an amazing fisherman and spent as many weekends as possible at the lake. I also remember him giving money to those in need, and I remember dropping off Christmas goodies to less fortunate families. I am sure he also did a lot of service and giving that I did not even know about. He was a humble man, and I don't ever remember his bragging.
I also remember my Dad being very strong, physically. I am sure he had great strength from growing up on a farm and from performing the hard labor associated with that. He told me that sometimes he would work all day and be so tired that he did not even eat dinner but instead went straight to bed. My dad enjoyed sharing his love of running with me as well, and I appreciate his being my physical fitness “coach.” One year we were part of the running and jogging program with the Ricks College PE department. Monday through Saturday we ran together in the morning until we had both run over 250 miles during the program. He also encouraged me when I was on the swim team by driving to and attending my swim meets, by supporting the team financially, and by serving as an officer/meet chairman.
My dad was also very generous and giving. He enjoyed the outdoors and was willing to share his boat for church youth activities. He was an excellent water skier. In fact, I was a little jealous that he could ski slalom, as well as backwards, but I could never reach his level! He was also an amazing fisherman and spent as many weekends as possible at the lake. I also remember him giving money to those in need, and I remember dropping off Christmas goodies to less fortunate families. I am sure he also did a lot of service and giving that I did not even know about. He was a humble man, and I don't ever remember his bragging.
I also remember my Dad being very strong, physically. I am sure he had great strength from growing up on a farm and from performing the hard labor associated with that. He told me that sometimes he would work all day and be so tired that he did not even eat dinner but instead went straight to bed. My dad enjoyed sharing his love of running with me as well, and I appreciate his being my physical fitness “coach.” One year we were part of the running and jogging program with the Ricks College PE department. Monday through Saturday we ran together in the morning until we had both run over 250 miles during the program. He also encouraged me when I was on the swim team by driving to and attending my swim meets, by supporting the team financially, and by serving as an officer/meet chairman.
Now, as I have started my own business with Chem-Dry, I admire him even more! It has become perfectly clear to me why he spent so many long hours building his business. I know he was honest in all his business dealings, and what a great example I have to follow as I build my own business and as I strive to follow in his footsteps to provide for my family, to serve in the community, and to help others.
My
dad showed his ultimate strength when he battled, and eventually succumbed to
thyroid cancer at the way-too-young age of 55. Cancer has affected my family very
deeply, as I also lost my mother to cancer. In honor of Father's Day, and in honor of
my father, I will be making a donation to Stand Up 2 Cancer. I want to be a part of finding a cure for
this horrible disease. If you, too,
have been affected in some way by cancer (or know someone who has), I invite and
encourage you to visit www.standup2cancer.org to make a donation. Click on the "Get Involved" tab…choose
"Start a Team"…then Browse Teams – put “Stand Up For Larry” in the search box
and click "Go." Thanks for your
support, and HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to all the dads out there!
