Lawrence Garfield Sr.
Lawrence “Larry” James Garfield Sr., Nazhi Súda (Stands Strong), 81, died Feb. 23, 2026, in Wolf Point.
He was born Feb. 20, 1945, in Williston, N.D., the fourth of twelve children of Daniel A. and Agnes (Moran) Garfield. He attended Immaculate Conception Grade School, public school and later Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota, where he was a standout athlete, lettering in every sport he participated in, including basketball, track, football and shooting sports. He graduated in 1964.
In 1965, he joined the U.S. Army, serving a tour in Vietnam before being stationed at Fort Knox, Ky. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Shenna Lou Richards. The couple married on April 6, 1968, at St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Louisville, Ky.
After their marriage, they moved to Wolf Point where they began their family, welcoming daughter Gwen and son Lawrence James Jr. They became dedicated members of Immaculate Conception Parish, where their children were baptized, received First Communion and Confirmation and attended CCD classes.
In 1970, the family moved to Kentucky for a few years, where Larry worked for Hillerich & Bradsby, the manufacturer of Louisville Slugger baseball bats. When the company relocated its factory to Indiana, the family returned to Montana in 1974.
When he moved back to Wolf Point, he started his career and devoted 31 years of service to the BIA Road Department before retiring in 1998.
He and Shenna spent many years — and drove many miles — supporting his grandchildren in all of their activities.
He was also deeply committed to supporting all of his nieces and nephews, attending their basketball games and always proudly bragging about them — and his grandchildren — to anyone who would listen.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman and spent much of his life taking family members — and the many friends who became like family — on
