Larry Don Carpenter

Larry Carpenter passed away with his family by his side on May 20, 2021. He was born in Fairview, Oklahoma on February 3, 1945 to Mervin and Orene Carpenter as the third of four children. The family moved to Montana, where he grew up in Gallatin Valley, spending much of his time on the Carpenter Lane Homestead near Logan and his grandparents’ homestead outside of Belgrade.  

Larry’s parents moved their family to California in 1962, where he graduated from Fremont Highschool. He then continued to apprentice schooling for carpentry while serving in the Army National Guard. Here he met his first wife and had twin daughters, Amber and Janella. In 1973 Larry moved his wife and daughters back to Montana, where they would be raised and call Montana home. Larry was a master carpenter for the majority of his career, working alongside his close friends and family, and left the work of his hand all throughout Gallatin Valley. After retiring from carpentry in 2001, he went on to use his knowledge in contractor sales at Kenyon Noble in Belgrade, MT. It was there that he met his current wife, Mindy. In 2010 Larry and Mindy moved to Northern Colorado, where Larry’s dream of a barn wedding with Mindy came true on June 25, 2011. In Colorado he enjoyed the social and agricultural aspects of working at farm and ranch supply stores. 

Larry lived by his words, “work hard to play hard.” Work included doing anything that needed done and helping anyone that needed help. He would do anything for those in need and had a positive impact on countless lives. Early in his life, Larry developed a love for horses and the western lifestyle. He said he was closest to God when he was in the saddle. Teaching his granddaughter, Emma, about horses became important to him after buying his horse, Whiskey, in 2008. To this day, Emma says with humor, “Papa gave me Whiskey.” Additionally, Larry treasured his 1982 T-Top Corvette. He enjoyed taking his grandson, Maurice, along for rides every chance he had as he knew how much Maurice loved it. Larry also became a member of a Corvette club in Montana, which allowed him to establish life-long connections to special, like-minded people. Larry blessed many people and their homes with products of his artistic abilities in drawing, antler carving, and woodworking. Living in California also led him to become a die-hard Oakland Raiders fan through the day he passed. The social guy that he was, Larry never met a stranger and made a multitude of friends attending various events, such as gymkhanas, the Northeastern Wagon Train, stock shows, trail rides, motorcycle club benefit events, car races, and ranch sorting events. Music and dancing brought him peace and joy, which began with following the bands Country Tradition in Montana and Country Touch in Colorado with Mindy.  Larry’s favorite song was “Here for a Good Time” by George Strait, and he lived his life by this lyric from the song, “I ain’t here for a long time. I’m here for a good time. So bring on the sunshine, to hell with the red wine. Pour me some moonshine. When I’m gone, put it in stone, ‘He left nothing behind’.”  

Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Mervin and Orene Carpenter; brother, Thomas Ray Carpenter; great nephew, Chase Johnson; and grandparents. He is survived by his wife, Mindy; daughters, Amber Carpenter and Janella Johnson (Dale); grandchildren, Maurice Johnson (McKenzie), Emma Warhank, and great-granddaughter, Arden Johnson; sisters, Rosie Campbell, Pat Bump; nieces and nephews, Sherry Madden, Carol Simonson, Bob Johnson, Tammy Rogers, Clay Carpenter, Sheila Barela, Cory Carpenter, Ron Morgan, Sandy Morgan, and numerous cousins; step-children, Amber Montgomery (Jared) and David Cash (Kelsey); along with several friends he considered family.  

Memorial celebrations will be held in both Colorado and Montana. Dates and locations will be announced at a later date.  

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