Larry O’Connor Jr., 64, of Winner, SD passed away on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 in Winner, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 10:00 AM at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. M.T. at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD.  There will be a visitation one hour prior to funeral service at the church.

Larry was born on the 1st day of summer on June 21, 1962 to Rosie Kerner and Larry D. O’Connor in Winner. He was the oldest of 5 kids; Cindy, Barb, Brenda and Lee.

He was a farmer/rancher worker his entire life. Larry helped milk the cow when he was only 5 years old. He went to field work at the age of 10. He worked for a few farmers around the area until he went to work with Steve and Karli McCance. Larry worked with them for 27 years. Larry’s passion to plant and watch things grow didn’t stop at the farm. He planted countless flowers at their home in Winner and took excellent care of his crop and they flourished.

At the age of 17, Larry joined the 730th Med Co in January of 1980. He enjoyed his 12 years there with his fellow soldiers. Proudly serving in Dessert Shield/Storm. Larry received many awards including Soldier of the Year.

Larry married Karen (Heckenlaible) O’Connor in March of 1982. They were blessed with 3 children; Bertha, James and Laura. Larry rarely called people by their actual names. He preferred to come up with his own personal nicknames and some of them were pretty wild.

Larry enjoyed all of the planting that he did, but he also loved playing games. Pitch, spades and monopoly were some of his favorites. Many nights they were still playing as the sun came up.

He never met a stranger. Larry could visit with anyone at any given time.

Larry was preceded in death by his Mother Rosie Kerner, sister Cindy, brother Lee, paternal and maternal grandparents and his mother and father-in-law LaVerne and Willard and nephew Travis.

Larry will be missed fiercely by his family. Especially his wife Karen, daughter Bertha (Aaron), and their children Elizabeth, Leo and Owen. Son James (Shelly) and their children Sterling, Syntha and Seyla. Daughter Laura (Cory), his siblings; Barbra (Darel) and Brenda, aunt Filina (Danny), step-siblings; Linda, Carol, Lee (Cathy), special friends John and Dianne Totton and their family along with a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.