In Memory of Larry E. Hultgren

Larry E. Hultgren, age 80, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, was called to his home in Heaven on April 15, 2025. 

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 2, 2025, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Rev. Neil Wehmas will officiate. Military Rites will be conducted by the McNamara-Moore Post No. 61 of the American Legion of Ida Grove, Iowa. A Private Family Inurnment will be held in the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa. 

A Visitation will be held one-hour prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 2, 2025, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. 

Any and all monetary memorials will be given to the OABCIG Athletic Department. 

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements.  Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Larry E. Hultgren was born March 5, 1945, in Battle Creek, Iowa, to Russell and Shirley (Linke) Hultgren. He was baptized and confirmed at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ida Grove, Iowa.

Larry graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1963. While in high school, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with the God and Country Award. During high school he excelled in athletics and was offered a scholarship to attend the University of South Dakota where he continued playing both football and basketball. In 2006 he was inducted into the Coyote Sports Hall of Fame for both football and basketball. What he loved most was beating SDSU. In fact, he had a then-school-record 85-yard touchdown run that helped USD upend SDSU 10-7. He graduated from the business school in 1967. He remained a loyal Coyote supporter all his life.

In 1967, Larry married his long-time sweetheart, and the one and only love of his life, Catharine “Tappy” Crawford and they shared 57 years of marriage. They were blessed with two children, Jennifer & Todd Conover and Jeff & Annie Hultgren. 

Larry served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1968-1971. He was selected to attend the Naval Officer’s Candidate School and graduated as a Distinguished Naval Graduate. He was assigned to CNAVANTRA in Corpus Christi, Texas and served as a Legal and Welfare officer for VT-24 at Chase Field in Beeville, Texas. His last year at VT-24 his parents received a letter from the Chief of Naval Personnel, informing them that Larry had been chosen the outstanding officer in the CNAVANTRA command. It was the first time that award went to a non-flying officer. 

In 1971, Larry returned to Ida Grove to join his father in the family John Deere business. In 2015, the State of Iowa celebrated the dealership for 75 years of business. It was a job that he loved – his employees were like family and his customers became friends. 

Larry was involved with many organizations in the community. He was on the fire department, served a short time as an EMT with the ambulance, and served on the Ida Grove Country Club board for many years. He served as an Elder and was on the church council at St. Paul Lutheran. He was a director on the board at United Bank of Iowa for 28 years. 

Larry’s passion was sports – playing, coaching and watching. From little league, to high school, college and pro, he encouraged all athletes to set and reach their goals and cheered them on all the way. He had the utmost respect for anyone who worked hard and tried their best. In his spare time, you could find him in his fishing boat trying to catch the big ones. His favorite place to fish and boat was on Green Lake in Spicer, Minnesota.

Survivors include his wife Tappy; daughter Jennifer (Todd) Conover and son Jeff (Annie) Hultgren; brothers Keith (Debbie) and David (Paula); four grandchildren: Jacob (Katelyn), Derek (Shelbi), Sydney (Dalton), and Samantha (Dominick); five great grandchildren: Lyla, Everlee, Theodore, Briar, and Declan; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Russ and Shirley Hultgren; father-in-law and mother-in-law Matt and Marjorie Crawford; and grandson Andrew Larry Hultgren.