Larry Dean Smith

Larry Dean Smith

June 25, 1939 – February 17, 2026

                Larry Dean Smith, 86 of Rutledge, Missouri passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Schuyler County Nursing Home in Queen City, Missouri.

                The son of Charles E. and Loretta M. (Potter) Smith, he was born on June 25, 1939 in Quincy, Illinois.  He was raised in Concord, Illinois near Jacksonville, Illinois. He was a 1958 high school graduate of Chapin High School in Chapin, Illinois.  Larry joined the Army in 1958 and fell in love with it.  Larry served in the Army in Germany as an intelligence analyst for U-2 flights from famous Army pilot Francis Gary Powers. He was honorably discharged in 1961 due to the health of his father.   Following his return home, Larry worked for 12 years for Anderson Clayton Foods.  He then attended Central Christian College of the Bible and received an Associate degree.  While he was attending Bible school, he was a fill in preacher for Prairie Hill Christian Church.  He continued to fill in at other small communities and then became Prairie Hill’s permanent preacher for 13 years while also working on one of the elder’s farms.  In 1985, Larry became a full-time minister for the Downing Christian Church.  He spent the first 15 years of his ministry working for IG Ruth dealing with furs, hides and lawnmowers.  Larry’s last Sunday as a full-time preacher was in June, 2022.  He was supply preaching and preached in five different churches following his retirement.

                Larry was united in marriage to the former Marilyn Lael and to this union two children were born, Michael and Melanie.  On February 10, 2001 at the Downing Christian Church in Downing, Missouri, Larry was united in marriage to Barbara (Frederick) Triplett.

                Survivors include his wife, Barbara Smith of Rutledge, Missouri; his children, Michael D. Smith of Clifton Hill, Missouri and Melanie D. Peterson and husband, Dan of Alburnett, Iowa; stepchildren, Jamie Triplett and wife, Dawn, Chad Triplett and wife, Heidi and Curt Triplett, all of Rutledge, Missouri and Joanie Baker and husband, James of Brock, Missouri; 12 grandchildren; one great grandson and one expected in May of 2026 all of which he loved very much; siblings, Jerry Smith and wife, Sue, Judy Heasley and Charlene Kelly; nieces and nephews, other family members and many good friends.

                Larry is preceded in death by his parents; one step daughter-in-law, Vanessa Triplett and one brother, Bill Smith.

                Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 20, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the Downing Christian Church in Downing, Missouri with Kramer Smith, Pastor of the Stiles Christian Church in Stiles, Iowa officiating.  Special musical selections of “When It’s All Said And Done,” “It Is Well With My Soul” and “Victory In Jesus” with Alisa Kigar, soloist and Donna Byrn, pianist.  Pallbearers will be Larry’s grandsons. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2026 between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri.  Memorials have been established for Downing Christian Church or I-Mo Christian Service Camp.  Online condolences may be expressed to the family by logging on to normanfh.com.  Burial will be in the Concord Cemetery in Concord, Illinois at 2:00p.m. on Friday, February 20, 2026. Arrangements are under the direction of the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri