Larry Bunjer

His boots were lined up neatly next to the old 1917 Moeller Pipe Organ, and he made the chimes ring out and the flues swell for the last time. The pipe organ weeps alongside the church congregation and the community as we mourn the loss of a talented musician and friend. Larry Ray Bunjer, named after his grandfathers Harry and Louis, was born on April 26, 1956, to Ray and Delores Bunjer. He grew up on the family farm north of Lennox, SD with his younger sisters Sharen, Diane, Carla, Lori, and Lisa. Larry attended country school at Berens #58, and then graduated from Lennox High School in 1974. Larry also received his degree in Auto Mechanics from Southeast Technical Institute. Larry worked at L&L Motors before beginning a successful and remarkable 40-year career at CCL Label (formerly Modern Press), with perfect attendance and no sick days taken. Larry worked several roles during his tenure at CCL, both unofficially and officially. You could find him fixing telephone and network lines, driving forklifts and skid steers, correcting sprinkler breaks, and even cleaning a restroom if it needed it, and this was all outside of his official job of Inventory Control Manager. Larry gave his all to his job and worked around the clock without a complaint; he was proud of his company and his people. Aside from his work, Larry was a farmer at heart and in his soul. He was drawn to the fields, to the crops, and to the outdoors. Larry farmed with his dad since he was young, so young that he ran into a pole with the tractor when he was five years old. Larry's children and grandchildren have fond and not-so-fond memories of working around the farm, including walking beans, riding the bean buggy, chasing cows, and mowing. Even the day before he went into the hospital for the last time, Larry brought his daughter into the tractor to make a round cultivating so planting could start on time. Larry began playing the organ at Lennox Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in the 7th grade. He studied the piano under Wava Rops, and then the organ under both Wava and Ella Coy. Larry, with his natural-born perfect pitch and ability to play both by sight and by ear, was a dedicated member of the music worship at Ebenezer, and was active with the piano, organ, worship teams, choir, and multiple quartets and small groups. One of Larry's greatest joys was playing and singing for weddings, funerals, community events, and church services with his mom Delores, and with his daughters Elizabeth (Betsy) and Michelle as well as playing duets with his grandchildren, Emersen and Harper, at their recitals. Larry met his future wife Lori (Kuper) at church in 1974 when her family started attending Lennox Ebenezer. Lori remembers wanting to go to church more and more because she thought the organist was cute. Lori and Larry were married in 1978 and had two daughters, Elizabeth (Betsy) and Michelle. Larry never missed his daughters' sporting, musical, or school events, and treated them as his greatest treasure. Likewise, Larry and Lori were graced with grandchildren, Logan, Emersen, Willow, Isaak, and Harper, whom Larry enjoyed bringing to school and events and was their biggest fan, most fun supporter, and best friend. Blessed to have enjoyed life with Larry are his wife, Lori, daughters, Elizabeth "Betsy" Bunjer-Thompson (Mike) of Jacksonville, FL and Michelle Strege (Ryan) of Lennox, grandchildren, Logan Brown-Veen-Strege (Madi) of Lawton, IA, Emersen Lee, Willow Booker, Isaak Booker, and Harper Lee, his sisters Sharen, Diane, Carla, Lori, and Lisa, many nieces and nephews, many cousins, as well as a host of family and friends. Larry was preceded in death by his parents Ray and Delores Bunjer, his parents-in-law, Don and Jeri Kuper, his grandparents Harry and Dena Bunjer and Louis and Helen Siepkes, his two uncles, Harold Bunjer and Alvern Bunjer, and one aunt, Joyce Bunjer. Services will begin at 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 26, 2023 at Lennox Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, Lennox, SD, with burial in the Lennox Cemetery. Visitation, with the family present, at Lennox Ebenezer Presbyterian Church multipurpose room, will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 25. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials directed to the Lennox Ebenezer Music Ministry or charity of your choice.

Larry Bunjer

April 26, 1956 - May 19, 2023

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