SCHOLZ, Larry Wayne

Twichel Funeral Home, Helena, Montana Larry W. Scholz Larry Wayne Scholz, 64, of Helena, MT, passed away Monday, August, 22, 2011 of an apparent heart attack in White Sulphur Springs. Larry was born on February 4, 1947, in Kansas City, KS to Herbert and Lyda (Lee) Scholz. He graduated high school from Enterprise Adventist Academy in 1965. His mother wanted him to be a minister and his father wished for him to be an attorney so he went to the University of Minnesota where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mortuary Science in 1969. Mr. Scholz married his high school sweetheart, Shirlayne Niedens, in 1970. Shortly thereafter, he began his funeral service career serving the community of Olathe, KS with his father-in-law, Wayne Niedens, at Olathe Memorial Chapel. In 1982 he acquired Eddingfield Funeral Home in Williams, AZ. A supply salesman shared with him an opportunity in the great northwest. That is when he visited the beautiful state of Montana and met Kenneth Twichel & Myron Wetzel. Larry struck a deal with these gentlemen in 1991 and purchased Connors, Twichel and Perkins Funeral Homes, where he was now the hometown undertaker for Townsend, White Sulphur and Harlowton. In 1997 he added Big Timber to his service territory with the acquisition of Lowry Funeral Home. He later opened Big Sky Cremations in East Helena and most recently opened Twichel Funeral & Cremation Service in Helena. All the while serving these communities, he was involved with the Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, Lions Club, Rotary International, Chamber of Commerce, Montana Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Larry thoroughly enjoyed his work and caring for his towns people throughout his 42 year career. Beyond funeral services, he enjoyed collecting and tinkering with cars, mowing the grass, eating fruit, chewing the rag with anyone that would dare, boating, water skiing and snow mobiling with his boys and romancing new business opportunities. He will be most remembered for his caring nature and heart of gold. Larry was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother Herbert. He is survived by his companion and business partner, Donna Amaro of Helena, MT; 3 sons; Jason Scholz of Denver, CO, Justin and his wife Rebecca Scholz of Olathe, KS and Jared and his wife Amanda Scholz of Kansas City, MO; daughter, Sarah and her husband John Bush of Tulsa, OK; 9 grandchildren, Ben, Noah, Jayna, Miles, Aiden, London, Cadence, Rilo and Hagen. Dad we will truly miss you and will always remember your smiling face! Visitation Wednesday, Perkins Funeral Home, Harlowton; Thursday, Twichel Funeral Home, White Sulphur Springs and Friday, Connors Funeral Home, Townsend for his last road trip. Visitation will be 9:00 AM prior to the services at 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 27, 2011 at Twichel Funeral & Cremation Service, 314 N. Rodney Street, Helena. Burial will take place in Kansas City, KS.