LaVant “Larry” Bean age 73 of Westbrook passed away on Saturday, November 20, 2010 at Sogge Good Samaritan Care Center in Windom due to complications of ALS.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook with Rev. Vicki Toutges officiating.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Monday at the Westbrook Funeral Home, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.  Interment is in the Westbrook Cemetery with military honors by the Westbrook VFW and American Legion.  Online condolences may be sent via www.westbrookfuneral.com.  The Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

LaVant Ronald “Larry” Bean was born September 12, 1937 in Rochester, MN to Willard and Yarmilla (Rybak) Bean.  He was baptized as a youngster at the Church of Peace and later attended the Baptist Church in Rochester.  He received his education from Rochester Public School and then joined the United States Army in 1955, spending one year in Germany.  Larry returned in 1956 when his father died.  He was then stationed in Minneapolis until he received his honorable discharge in 1957.  On May 14, 1960, Larry was united in marriage wo Betheen Kvilhaug at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.  This marriage was blessed with two children, Kim and Todd.  After marriage, Larry and Betheen lived in Minneapolis, Rochester, and Westbrook.  Larry worked as a lab tech, long distance truck dirver, and policeman.  In 1994, he was chosen as the American Trucking Associations truck driver of the year, while working in St. Cloud.  In 2007, Larry was treated for PLS, and in August 2010 he was diagnosed with ALS.  Larry was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and the Westbrook VFW and American Legion.  Larry enjoyed fishing and hunting with his father in his younger years.  He also enjoyed watching TV, traveling to Norway, Denmark and Cape Cod for family genealogy, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Larry is survived by his wife Betheen of 50 years; two children: Kim Nelson and special friend Kevin Schmuhl of Big Lake, and Todd Bean and wife Dianne of Zimmerman; four grandchildren: Christopher and Kelley Nelson, and Heather and Matthew Bean; sister Karen Frutiger of Miltona, MN and numerous other relatives and friends.  Preceding him in death are his parents, stepfather Murv Adler and brother in law Noel Frutiger.

Send Your Condolences