Larry Peart

Larry Peart, age 79, of Lake Lillian, died unexpectedly, Tuesday, August 28, at the St. Cloud Hospital surrounded by his loving family.


A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 8, at the Assembly of God Church in Willmar.  Military honors will be provided by the Richmond America Legion Post.  Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. with a Masonic Service at 8 p.m. on Friday, September 7, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church. www.petersonbrothers.com


Darald "Larry" Peart was born on April 12, 1939, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the son of Howard and Violet (Luce) Peart.  He grew up and received his education in La Crescent, Minnesota. In 1956, Larry enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served in Vietnam where he was awarded both a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.  On July 2, 1966, at the Green Lake Lutheran Bible Camp Chapel in Spicer, Larry was united in marriage to Vandla Wallin and they made their home in Willmar.  He retired from active duty in 1976, following over 20 years of honorable service in the special intelligence field and recruiting.  During that time, he had travelled to 110 countries in the world. Larry was employed as VP of the First State Bank in Lake Lillian and later became a real estate broker and insurance agent.  He served as the mayor and part time police officer for the City of Lake Lillian.  Larry later became the Chief Investigator of the 8th Judicial Public Defenders Office as well as being an investigator for the Schmidt Thompson Johnson & Moody Law office.  In 1994, Larry founded Peart & Associates, Inc., a firm specializing in private investigations and security services.   He "officially retired" in 2018.


Larry was active with the MN Association of Private Investigators/Protective Agents (MAPI), Sharon Masonic Lodge, Zuhrah Shrine Temple, Civil Air Patrol; and member of the Lake Lillian American Legion Post, V.F.W. besides numerous conservation organizations.  Larry was an avid sportsman and a founding member of Swan Lake Hunting Club from 1986 to present. His favorite pastime was tending to the property and filling the bellies of family, friends and fellow hunters with spoonfuls of hearty meals and storytelling around the camp's supersized table. The Swan Lake Hunting Club is where Larry loved to commune with the Lord and God's natural world. He frequently referred to it as his church. He mentored youth in numerous capacities and cherished the many outdoor memories created with his children and grand-children. Larry adored his wife. They shared a mutual love of golf and cooking with each other. His other hobbies included aviation and stock car racing (in the 60's and 70's), reading historical nonfiction and being an instructor for the MN Permit to Carry Certification.


He is survived by his wife, Vandla Peart of Lake Lillian; three children, Michael (and Janelle) Peart of Richmond, Tammi (and Tim) Parsons of Spicer and Howard (and Becky) Peart of Richmond; seven grandchildren, Cody, Ethan, Nicolle, Ruby, Gavin, Allexis and Kendal; three nephews, Steve, Rob and Jeffrey; one niece, Jennifer and one sister-in-law, Lynda Peart of St. Cloud, besides other relatives and friends.


He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Richard and Dennis.