Larry G. Maier

Larry G. Maier’s last chapter in life was finished on January 10, 2026 in Missoula Montana. He was born January 19, 1932 in Isabel, South Dakota to Christine Maier and raised by his grandparents John and Elizabeth Maier.

At age 16 he was inducted to the US Army, where he spent four years overseas.

Larry and Creta Morris were married in 1952 and had four children—Lonn, Rene’, Dawn’l and Greg. After his career in the US Army, he tried a variety of trades in Ellensburg, Washington, including as a Singer Sewing Machine sales rep, the owner of Larry’s Tavern, and as an apprentice plumber while living on a 120-acre ranch in rural Ellensburg, raising cattle, horses, and growing hay.

In 1965 he transplanted his family to Grand Coulee as the new owner of the Wildlife Restaurant and Antler Motel. He operated the restaurant and motel for the next 30 years as one of the Coulee business owners during construction of the dam’s third powerhouse, albeit not without an ultimate cost. Larry and Creta divorced after 20 years of marriage. Larry remarried and spent the following years living in Electric City. In 2022 he moved to Missoula to spend his remaining years in the care of his Montana family (a special thank you to Terry Edwards and Sharon Pearcy). He was active in Colorama, Shriners, Chamber of Commerce and held a position with the Port Commission; he loved fishing and boating, and other extracurricular activities.

He was preceded in death by the loss of daughter Dawn’l in 2022; he is survived by three children, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren as well as two half-brothers David and Steven Doney.

A brief goodbye service was held January 15th and he was interred at the Spring Canyon Cemetery.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” --Galatians 5:22-23