Larry Dean Minor was born June 4, 1934, in Iola, Kansas to Vernon Charles and Alma Pearl Minor. He was the youngest child of five having two brothers, Charles Minor and Jimmie Minor and two sisters Bonnie Minor Hagenhoff and Naomi Minor, who died at birth. At the age of two years old the family moved to Oklahoma. As a young boy, Larry was raised on the west side of Bartlesville on south Rogers Street. At the start of World War II, Larry was in grade school. He liked to watch the war trains carrying military supplies, tanks, guns and troops that came through town. One childhood memory he once shared was making darts from old wood roofing shingles and shooting them into the air. The darts came down and stuck in the neighbor's roof. He spent the whole summer mowing the neighbor's yard. He rode his bicycle all over town and went "alley junking" and getting stuff out of people's trash boxes. On Saturdays he and his friends would go to the movies and watch what was called "continued series." They would spend all day there watching The Green Hornet, Batman and Sky King for about 10 cents. As a young boy, Larry and his brother, Jimmie, walked or rode their bicycles from downtown to work at the Hillcrest Country Club where they were highly sought out caddies. The most devastating events in his life were the deaths of his father when he was 11 and of his great grandson, Kade Minor, in 2017. After the death of his father, Larry went back to Iola, Kansas, to live with his grandmother and aunt for a short time. There they instilled in him the love of God's Word with daily Bible verse reading. Larry was baptized on September 14, 1986 at the Copan United Methodist Church. Larry attended Central Junior High School in Bartlesville after his elementary years at Lincoln.

He completed his education at Bartlesville College High School, graduating in 1952. After graduating Larry entered the United States Navy. He spent four years active duty and three years inactive reserves. During his time in the Navy, Larry was on board three aircraft carriers, the U.S.S. Hornet, the U.S.S. Intrepid and the U.S.S. Enterprise. He also experienced three around-the-world cruises. His ranking in the Navy was Machinists Mate 2nd Class. Larry received an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1957. When he came home from the Navy, Larry began working at H.C. Price Company and worked there for five years. He went to work for the U.S. Bureau of Mines and after 27 years retired at age 54 in 1988. While working for the government he started a tractor repair business, L.D. Minor Tractor and Implement. He was known to be the best tractor repairman and restorer in the area. He continued to work on tractors until his health began to fail from Alzheimer's disease. For many years you could find him and his crew cutting and bailing hay in the hot summer months. In 1985 he became a lifetime 3rd Degree Master Mason. Larry was an animal lover and had ambitions when he was young to be a veterinarian. He had cattle, goats, ducks, pigs, chickens and many beloved dogs. Shortie had been his constant companion for the past 15 years.

Larry married Carolyn Grady on June 7, 1956 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Larry and Carolyn are the parents of three children, Bill (Brenda) Minor, Karrie (Bill) Stutsman, Kim (Kelly) Nissen and bonus son, Alan (Donna) Coonfield. They have six grandsons, Dustin Minor, Zack Minor, Heath Houser, Cody Nissen, Chad Nissen and Chance Nissen, one granddaughter, Heather Houser Aldrich, and two bonus granddaughters, Chasity Lafferty Bryan and Jackie Lafferty. Great grandchildren include the late Kade Minor, Harper Minor, McKenzie Aldrich, Trey Aldrich, Lane Houser, Emry Houser, Kamrie Nissen, Jaxon Nissen, Grady Nissen, Audrey Nissen, Bear Nissen, Lily Nissen and Carson Nissen.

Those who knew Larry loved him and he loved you. In his last days, he might not have known your name, but he knew you were someone special to him. He lived life to the fullest, but his greatest feeling of accomplishment was watching his kids and grandkids grow up to be fine and responsible adults.

Larry saw the angels coming and went to meet Jesus at 8:30 p.m. on Christmas Day 2021 at his home in Ochelata, Oklahoma at the age of 87 years.

He will be laid to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on December 30, 2021.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making donations to the Kade Minor Memorial Fund at American Bank of Oklahoma at 199 Caney Valley Place in Ramona, Oklahoma 74061.