Larry L Leatherman

Larry L. "Otis" Leatherman, age 68, Clark, died in the Prairie Lakes Hospital at Watertown early Friday morning, January 22, 2010. "Big O" as he was known to area residents was a longtime supporter of athletics in the region. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 1PM in the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark with Pastor Donna Nickels officiating. Dorothy Fuller will be the pianist with Greg Furness as soloist, singing "Precious Lord, Take my Hand". The congregation will sing "Blest Be The Tie That Binds". Casketbearers will be John & Christopher Leatherman, Bob Seefeldt, Don Greenfield, Mike and Jerry O'Neill, Les Solberg, Spider Clausen, Buster Altfillisch and Fred Obermeier. Honorary casketbearers will be all of his friends and the staff of the Golden Living Center at Clark. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark. Visitation will be held on Friday from 5-7PM at the Furness Funeral Home Chapel and after 9AM on Saturday in the chapel until time of service. He was born on February 20, 1941 in Day County, the son of William Bill and Upheme Honey (Hansen) Leatherman. He grew up on a farm near Enemy Swim Lake, one of six children. He attended two different country schools near Waubay until the family moved to Raymond. After he turned 16, he no longer attended school, as in his words I thought I was smart enough! Otis then went on to be a hired man for Ivan Graves south of Raymond. At about the age of 19 he began work in the Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, 5800 feet under the ground. He returned to this area three years later and began an employment with Chickasha Mobile Homes in Watertown which later became Medallion Homes. He later went to work for Clausen Construction driving a gravel truck. Diabetes has been a part of his life for over 25 years. With declining health issues, he became a resident of the Golden Living Center at Clark some 14 years ago. Even though health issues have restricted him to living at the care center, that has not been an issue with him still being called Number One sport fan of the area. In 2001, Otis as he was known to most or Big O as called by many others, was awarded the Clark Comets Community Award and given a lifetime pass to all future games for being a #1 fan and community backer. Whether it was at the baseball diamond keeping score for Jim Bjerke during his years as Legion coach or helping Fred Obermeier, Clark Traders Mgr., at a football game, wrestling match, basketball game, or at the bowling alley, Otis was always your #1 fan. He took great pride in recent years, getting to his golf cart, pushing the accelerator with a crutch, as his legs had been amputated due to diabetes, and ending up at the golf course, rooting you on at the T-box on number 7. The golf cart had even been sited at Potato Days a time or two, especially near the diamond watching Mashed Potato Wrestling. With the help of people in the community, Big O would still come to local sporting activities and even some of those activities at District and Regional tournament times. On the professional level, he was also a #1 Green Bay Packer fan, always up on the point spread. He will be missed by many in the community. Survivors include his siblings, Kenneth (Dolly) Leatherman of Spearfish, SD, Warren (Esther) Leatherman of Peoria, IL and Wayne (Jean) Leatherman of Roseville, MN, nieces, nephews and a host of friends. Preceding him in death were his parents, siblings, Dale & Shirley. Arrangements are announced by the Furness Funeral Home in Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com