Larry Walker

Larry E. Walker was born Jan. 4, 1945, in Pierre, S.D., to Chet and Vera (Hopkins) Walker. He grew up and spent most of his life on a ranch in southeast Meade County, South Dakota, on the scenic Cheyenne River breaks. Throughout his childhood, he rode horseback with his four other siblings to attend rural grade school. Larry graduated from Wall (S.D.) High School and went on to attend Black Hills State University (S.D.).
Larry always had a yearning for fast horses, so he joined his brother in California, where he rode racehorses up and down the west coast. Moving back to South Dakota in his early 20s after a horse racing injury, Larry worked construction with his lifelong best buddy, Butch Beach, at the Cactus in Wall. Larry then headed back to the Cheyenne River in Plainview, buying the family ranch from his parents at their point of retirement.
He married the love of his life, Judy Slovek, in 1980. They raised three girls—Melissa (Fosheim), Amy (Schuelke) and Tracey (Wendt).
At the family ranch, they took pride in the cattle, horses and wheat they raised. Larry did not have any boys per se of his own, but he sure taught his girls the ins and outs of the ranch and how to be independent. As the kids grew up, he took many of their friends and neighbor kids under his wing and found great joy in their games, rodeos, track meets, tubing and ice-skating parties and generally “most” of their shenanigans.
Larry was a neighbor man, where friends were family and you always lent a helping hand. Some of the fondest memories were spent at neighborhood brandings, roping at the H&M, helping with the livestock show at the Faith Stock Show, shimmying up that big cedar tree to light the star for Christmas and an occasional foot race that he always dominated.
Larry and Judy continued to ranch until 2002 when his health said no more.
Larry and Judy moved to the Black Hills of South Dakota by Custer and opened the Stage Stop gift shop in 2006 in Hill City. He very much enjoyed meeting new people and made some lifelong friends.  Once you visited with Larry for very long, you were no longer a stranger, but a friend. Stories were always being told and connections were always being made.  
After being confined to home for health reasons, Larry enjoyed watching the wildlife out the window and the beautiful sunsets to the west. He also very much enjoyed his role as “Grandpa” and the grandkids were the apple of his eye. Judy loved and cared for him beyond measure, and did everything in her power to spoil him.
Larry passed away Nov. 29, 2022. He was 77.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Chet and Vera Walker; sister, Linda Geis; brothers, Jack (Sharon) and David (Yvette) Walker; and special friend, Larry Sandal.
Grateful for sharing his life are his wife, Judy Walker of Custer; one sister, Carole (Roy) Morris of Greenfield, Calif.; brother-in-law, Jim (Marianne) Geis of Aladdin, Wyo.; children, Melissa (Pat) Fosheim of Midland, S.D.,  Amy (Kasey) Schuelke of Faith, S.D., and Tracey (Rory) Wendt of Castle Rock, S.D.; grandkids,  Baxter Fosheim, Logan and Rylann Schuelke, Whitley and Weston Wendt; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends that were like family to him.
A memorial service was held Dec. 5.
May there be fast horses, fat cattle, loyal cow dogs, lush grass, good music and a Camel smoke waiting for you in heaven.
Condolences may be sent to the family at kinkadefunerals.com.