Larry Lee Lynde, 58, passed away on December 5, 2025, and went home to be with the Lord. He fought a courageous battle with cancer, meeting every challenge with determination and faith.

Larry was born November 6, 1967, in Sidney, Montana, to Ralph and Anna (Schmoll) Lynde. His sister, Ruth, joined the family three years later. The Lyndes lived in the Sidney area, and after a move for work, Larry began school in Lambert before attending school in Sidney and Brorson where he first met the Johnson family.

During his years at Sidney High School, Larry was persuaded to lead the Sidney Eagle cheer at a basketball game, and as many would say, the rest is history. Larry became best known for leading the Eagles cheer for many years at countless games, creating a legacy that remains legendary in the community. Though he cheered for Lambert, Fairview, and other area schools, his heart always belonged to the Sidney Eagles. He was also a devoted Griz fan and a loyal Denver Broncos fan.

Larry developed a lifelong love for sports early on. While still in high school, he struck up a friendship with sports reporter Bill Vander Weele. The two traveled together to local sporting events, Bill writing, Larry cheering and those trips only deepened Larry’s passion for sports.

Larry was raised in the Assembly of God Church and attended many summer church camps, especially enjoying Glacier Bible Camp near Hungry Horse, MT, where he made friends from all over. He was the kind of person who remembered names, stories, and details about everyone he met. His faith was deep and steady, and he carried full confidence that he would one day enter Heaven’s gates.

Larry attended the Trapper Creek Job Corps for about a year and, in the summer of 1989, served on the Job Corps fire crew, fighting forest fires in Arizona and elsewhere. He loved the travel and challenge of the work and spoke often of those experiences.

After returning to Sidney, Larry worked a variety of jobs in the area. He was employed at Holly Sugar, City of Sidney, J & L Fencing, Sidney Sugars, did farm work and other local jobs. He eventually returned to the City of Sidney, where he was working at the time of his passing. Larry also spent many years with Johnson Farms, helping with farming, the cattle, and whatever else needed to be done. He truly enjoyed going to the farm and working alongside Craig and his family, as the Johnson’s became his second family.

On June 28, 2014, Larry married Shirley Tanniehill in Forsyth. They later moved to Billings where he worked for the sugar factory and City of Billings Parks and Rec department. They enjoyed their time together and liked to spend their time traveling, visiting new places, and sampling steakhouses - always with mashed potatoes and gravy. After a few years, they returned to Sidney to be closer to home.

Larry took great pride in baking pumpkin bread for every family at Christmas. He loved gardening, canning, taking drives around the area, and stopping to visit with friends. Larry never met a stranger, and if you wore Broncos or Griz gear, you could count on a conversation.

He was a walking sports encyclopedia, able to recall plays, stats, and game details with astonishing accuracy, even years later. Whether he watched a game in person or on TV, he could recount it play-by-play. He enjoyed ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, was an avid World War II history buff with an extensive book collection and competed in multiple Fantasy Football leagues every year. Larry loved a good steak with mashed potatoes and gravy, his Pepsi, an occasional round of golf, and time spent with friends.

Larry was diagnosed with cancer in April 2023, yet he refused to let the illness define his life. He continued treatments and worked until just weeks before his passing, living fully and faithfully. We are forever grateful that Larry was the Elks Club benefactor in 2023, as this generosity eased a huge financial burden and allowed Larry to experience your love while he was still with us.

With his best buddy, Chris Volk, he attended countless sporting events throughout the years. Our family is grateful to all who supported Larry and helped make some of his sports dreams come true. Larry and Chris enjoyed memorable adventures, including the 2023 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, the 2024 Cats-Griz game, and an unforgettable VIP experience at the Griz Stadium as a guest of Marcus Welnel, complete with on-field access and behind-the-scenes tours. In 2024, Larry set out on another sports-filled journey with Chad Quilling, Dennis, and Brandon, traveling to both a CU Buffs game and a Denver Broncos game, creating yet another set of cherished memories.

Everyone who knew Larry has a “Larry story” - a testament to the joy, humor, and spirit he shared so freely.

Larry is survived by his wife, Shirley Lynde of Billings; his mother, Anna Lynde of Sidney; his sister, Ruth (Dennis) Moore of Sidney; his nephew, Brandon (Ashley) Moore of Sidney; and his niece, Nicole Moore of Denver. He is also survived by numerous in-laws, aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father Ralph, grandparents, numerous uncles and other family members.

Memorial Contribution