Larry Ingram

Larry Ingram

August 9, 1942 – November 4, 2022

Larry Ingram was born on August 9^th, 1942 to Charlie & Gladys Ingram near Chelan, Saskatchewan.  He was the youngest in the family having a sister Doris, 9 years older, and a brother Virgil, 13 years older.  Together, they lived on the family farm near Porcupine Plain.

At an early age, Larry had a soft spot and a way with animals.  In his childhood, he had chickens he could lull to sleep, a turkey that was protective of him, and a dog he enjoyed playing with.  He worked on the farm alongside his family, as he went to school, which he didn’t enjoy all that much.

Life shifted dramatically for him when at the age of 13, his dad was diagnosed with cancer and passed away.  Then 6 years later, his mom also passed away from cancer.  By this time, his sister, Doris, and brother Virgil were each married, and together they helped to care for Larry and provide stability for the family.  At the age of 15, Larry quit going to school and poured himself into the family farm.

A few years later, after Larry had gone out with friends and they offered some girls a ride home, he met Gwyneth Willerton.  He was instantly smitten with her and began his pursuit.  They dated for 8 months, and after he turned 20, and Gwen turned the mature age of 16, he asked her to marry him, and she said, ‘Yes!’

They started their marriage on December 8^th, 1962, living in a one room house on the family farm, in which the blankets froze to the wall in the winter, with $64 in their bank account.  In the pursuit of something new, they moved to Melfort to for Larry to work at a gas station and then to Resource, Saskatchewan, to be a grain buyer with Federal Grain.  After several years of grain buying, Larry started working for a company in Kinistino selling farm equipment and vehicles at C & D Service. 

In 1964, Larry & Gwen started a family having their oldest son, Darrel, and 2 years later, had their second son, Alvin; they were now a family of 4. 

Not long after this, Larry began to work as a grain buyer again for National Grain, and this led to an opportunity for him to work for the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool when a position became available in Tisdale, Saskatchewan.  He and Gwen decided to move there for the job and Tisdale became the stable home for them and their family.

Larry became the elevator agent in Tisdale, running two elevators, and serving the local farmers.  Whatever job he did, he cared about working hard, doing the job right, and trying to be fair.  He managed the elevators well and won many awards for it, even winning a trip for him and Gwen to go to Germany & Austria for selling chemical.  There was always a pot of coffee on at the elevator, and as he worked hard, he also tried to let farmers know that he cared about them as well.

After being in Tisdale for 2 years, they had another son, Chet, in 1972.  As they functioned as a family of 5 now, Larry pursued many of his life-giving hobbies.  He and Gwen built a cabin at Marean Lake, and the family spent most weekends there, fishing, hunting, sledding, snowmobiling, golfing, and relaxing.  He bought a small John Deere tractor that he played on, clearing out the roads in winter for all the other cabin owners.  Alongside of this, he and Gwen took many adventures with the family on camping trips to Alberta and BC.

Larry loved his immediate family, but also loved his extended family very much.  It was high priority to plan Christmas and other holidays to be with all the siblings, their spouses, nieces and nephews, and cousins.  It was usually at these gatherings that he enjoyed other passions like good food.  He loved Norwegian leftse, lutfisk, and Rommegrot. 

Aside from these passions, a new passion emerged in Larry at the age of 37.  He had a snowmobile accident in which he was significantly injured, and it awoke in him a realization of the frailty of life, and he made the decision to let Jesus guide him from that day forward.  With this shift, came a passion to care for others behind the scenes, to pray daily for people that were hurting and in need, and a desire to bring hope of life after death, to those he knew.

Once Larry retired from the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool after 31 years in 1996, he and Gwen, bought a 5^th wheel trailer and truck, and spent the next 8 years travelling to Bible camps and Youth With A Mission, in various locations in Canada and USA.  They served in the kitchens, maintaining the facilities, and loving and caring for people.  They loved meeting people from all around the world, and were loved for their service, friendship, laughter, and care they brought.  Whenever they were back in Saskatchewan, they would move their 5^th wheel to various farmer’s yards and Larry would drive tractors, combines, and trucks for some extra income, but mostly for fun.  Gwen would make meals for him and often for others, as they enjoyed the outdoors.

Whenever Larry and Gwen could, they loved spending time with their kids, Darrel, Alvin, and Chet.  Alongside their kids came daughter-in-laws; Sandy, Lindsey, and Karen, whom Larry always had an extra soft spot in his heart for.  Then came their grandkids, Amy, Samantha, DJ, Ryley, Stacey, James, and Evelyn.  Like most grandkids, they brought great joy to Larry & Gwen.

After several years of retirement, Larry was diagnosed with cancer, had treatments, and was cancer-free from that point forward; however, this meant a move to Saskatoon, and eventually resulted in Larry & Gwen permanently residing in Osler, Saskatchewan. 

After several years, Larry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and was eventually moved into Warman Special Care Home.  Gwen drove daily to be with him, and eventually sold their home and moved into the Independent Living wing of the Warman Home, to be with him.  She loved, served, and advocated for him, faithfully, until he succumbed to his Parkinson’s on November 4^th, 2022. 

Larry passed away at the age of 80, 34 days short of his 60^th anniversary to the love of his life, Gwen.  He is and will be deeply missed for his smile, laughter, care, and servant heart.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Gwen; sons and daughter-in-laws, Darrel & Sandy Ingram, Alvin & Karen Ingram, and Chet & Lindsey Ingram; grandchildren, Amy, Samantha, DJ, Ryley, Stacey, James, and Evelyn; sister, Doris; sister-in-law, Connie; and nieces and nephews, Kevin, Bev, Cheryl, Glenda, Verlyn, Vincent, Scott, and Deann.

Larry is predeceased by Charles & Gladys Ingram (Mother & father), Virgil Ingram (Brother), Alton Fredsberg (Brother-in-law), and Lloyd Frazer (Brother-in-law).

A Memorial Service will take place on Friday, November 18, 2022 at 2:00pm at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 107 McWillie Ave, Saskatoon, SK. To watch the live stream please click on the link below.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STREAM LINK OF MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE LATE LARRY INGRAM
(A copy of the live stream will also be available to view after the service at the link above.)

Arrangements entrusted to Dalmeny Funeral Home 306-254-2022.