Larry Dean Bangs, age 72, of Mabel, Minn., died peacefully Friday, November 16, 2018, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn.
Larry was born April 19, 1946, in Preston, Minn., to Maloy, Sr. and Norma (Vickerman) Bangs. He attended school in Canton and graduated from the Mabel High School in 1964. From 1966 to 1969 he served in the United States Navy and was an Aviation Support Electrician aboard the USS Enterprise in the Vietnam War. On August 20, 1969, he married Phyllis Moyer at the Henrytown Lutheran Church. After his discharge from the Navy he worked for 34 years as a sprinkler fitter for Viking, Olympic, and Summit companies and had lived in Mabel, Rochester, Stewartville, and Utica before moving back to the Lanesboro area in 1980. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, hunting morel mushrooms, and taking trips to the casino.
Larry is survived by his wife Phyllis of Mabel, a daughter, Sheila (Steve) Melbostad of Mabel; two grandchildren, Nick (Clarissa) Spande and Megan Melbostad, both of Mabel; three sisters: Janice (Wally) Beuch of Menahga, Minn., Linda Benson of Decorah, Iowa, and Julie Bangs of Mabel; sisters-in-law Judith Bangs of Farmington, Minn., Jean Higgenbotham of Calahan, Fla., and Patricia (Robert) Diehlmann of Onalaska, Wis.; mother-in-law Shirley Holzer of West Salem, Wis.; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Shad Bangs; two brothers, Maloy, Jr., and Jerome; and a brother-in-law, Henry Higgenbotham.
Visitation will be 9–11 a.m. on Saturday, November 24 at the Henrytown Lutheran Church, with a prayer service at 11 a.m. The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with arrangements.