Larry Handy

Larry Richard Handy, 67, of Poplar died Feb. 6, 2026, at home.

He was born to Richard “Bud” and Colleen Handy and grew up in Flaxville as the oldest of three children alongside his siblings, Casey and Chris. He took his role as the oldest very seriously. He attended Flaxville High School and graduated with the Class of 1977.

After high school, he moved to Glendive to attend Dawson Community College, where he gave DCC the good ol’ college try. While officially enrolled, his true major was rodeo — and, despite his best efforts, he graduated with a lifetime of stories and very few educational credits. Still, he would tell you it was time well spent. After his “college months,” he returned to Flaxville and went to work, holding various jobs over the years, including working at Garberg Ranch and in the oil field.

On Oct. 6, 1990, he married Lauri Ralston and they began their life together full of love, laughter and plenty of stories. Their first son, Wyatt, was born in 1992, followed by Ty in 1995. In 1997, their family was complete with the arrival of their daughter, Ashton — Larry’s “little girl,” who had him wrapped around her finger from day one.

He spent many years farming and ranching south of Brockton. In 2009, he and Lauri moved upriver to their current home, where they built their dream house overlooking the Missouri River — a place Larry was incredibly proud of and deeply loved. He worked alongside his children, especially when it came to making hay. One of his favorite jobs was packing the

silage pit every fall. He was constantly trying to convince his good friend Wilbur that they needed two-way radio so they could do more bullshitting and less packing.

He loved to rope whether it was at brandings, hi-lines, jackpots, ranch rodeos and local rodeos. He built a roping arena at the home place, which the boys eventually turned into a feedlot pen — deemed more profitable than an arena. The feedlot still carries the arena name. He also loved watching rodeos, from Culbertson Frontier Days and the Wolf Point Stampede to the National Finals Rodeo and every event streamed on the Cowboy Channel. Each one was an opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones.

As his children got older, he decided to purchase his first pontoon boat — and enduring many memorable problems and events with it, he decided the boating life wasn’t for him and traded it for a hay rake. Then, later in life after semi-retirement, he developed a new love for being on Fort Peck Lake — just never actually in the water (or the sun). He treasured summers spent with family and friends boating and relaxing under the canopy at the lake.

A natural storyteller, his tales only grew bigger and more colorful the more times they were told. He had a way of making people laugh, feel welcome, and he was never short of words.

Following his children to every sporting event and supporting their involvement in 4-H and FFA was a priority for him. One of his many talents was competing in the hog boarding competition at the Richland Country Fair every year. Even after his own children had graduated, he continued supporting nieces, nephews and his special neighbor kids in all their activities.

He is survived by his wife, Lauri Handy; children, Wyatt Handy, Ty Handy of Wolf Point and Ashton Beery of Vida; two granddaughters; mother, Colleen Handy of Flaxville; brother, Casey Handy of Flaxville; and sister, Chris Westgard of Westby.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Feb. 13, with the family receiving friends from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Vida Country Club. In Larry’s memory and to honor his legacy, his family will brand his last set of calves on May 23 at the family ranch, to celebrate a truly well lived life all family and friends are invited.