Larry Mark Owens

A loving husband and father and accomplished construction worker, Larry Mark Owens passed away unexpectedly on June 22, 2021 in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Larry was born July 17, 1948 in Idaho Falls, Idaho to Cecil and Bernice Owens. He attended Holy Rosary Catholic School and was a graduate of Idaho Falls High School in 1966. Upon graduation, Larry enlisted in the Army National Guard 116th Combat Engineer Battalion. Before leaving for basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, Larry married Mary Jeanne Weiszhaar on October 14, 1967. The two met when he was a second grader at Holy Rosary and Mary was a first grader. They started their family In Idaho Falls. In August of 1968, Larry’s Guard unit was deployed to Vietnam, where he served as Clerk, Specialist, 4th Class in the Headquarters Company at Bao Loc, South Vietnam. He returned to Idaho Falls in August of 1969 and was honorably discharged from the Army in September of 1973.

Upon the end of his military service, Larry enrolled at Idaho State University, taking courses in general studies while working at a tire shop in Idaho Falls. He eventually decided upon a career as a union carpenter. He applied and was accepted to the Idaho Falls Carpenters and Millmen Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program in September of 1975. He successfully completed the program and became a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local #609. Around this time, Larry began looking for a new location to set down roots.  Having visited Sandpoint, Idaho during family vacations, Larry recalled the beauty of the area. When a longtime friend mentioned plans to build the Bristlecone Apartments on Pine Street in Sandpoint, Larry did not hesitate to relocate his wife and three children in August of 1978. Larry would go on to leave a legacy of construction in Sandpoint beginning in the 1980s, working on such iconic structures as the Long Bridge, the Cedar St. Bridge, and the Bonner Mall, to name just a few. It was during this time that Larry purchased land in Sagle, Idaho and built his family home. As the construction boom in Sandpoint waned in the late 80s, Larry began commuting every weekday to Spokane and its outlying areas for commercial construction work with Garco Construction and Lydig Construction. In 2002, Larry’s career with the latter saw him return to the Sandpoint area to construct the White Pine Lodge at Schweitzer Mountain Resort. A few years later, he would help complete the first three complexes of Seasons at Sandpoint, followed by the construction of what is now the University of Idaho Center for Organic Research on North Boyer. His career with the Carpenters Union ended in 2010 after the remodel of the Safeway store in Bonners Ferry was completed.

In retirement, Larry began volunteering at the Seneacquoteen Cemetery and serving on its Board of Directors. He took great pride in the improvements he and others made in reclaiming the forgotten cemetery as well as the ongoing seasonal maintenance. One task he particularly enjoyed was planning the annual Memorial Day Service, which included adorning the gravesites of military veterans with flags, a job his grandson, Aiden, loved helping his grandpa with. He recently constructed and donated a beautiful lectern to the cemetery for future Memorial Day services. In 2015, Larry’s wife was diagnosed with COPD and he spent the next five years providing compassionate care to Mary. She passed away on January 26, 2020.   

Larry will be remembered for his honesty, integrity, strong work ethic, dedication to others, putting others’ wellbeing before his own and for his service to God and his country. He is survived by his mother, Bernice Owens; his four children, Anthony (Elsa), Christopher, Rosemary and Ethan; three grandchildren, Christopher (Brianna), Adrian (Gabby) and Aiden; one great-grandchild, Charlie; his sister, Rose (Karmin) Peterson, brother, Merrill (Christie) Owens and sister, Kathleen (Robert) Eldred; and many nieces and nephews. Larry was preceded in death by his father, Cecil Owens and his wife, Mary. 

Larry will be interred at Seneacquoteen Cemetery, along with his wife, Mary. There will be a celebration of life for both, the place and date of which will be published at a later date in the Daily Bee.

A very special thank you to Eldon Smith, a neighbor and longtime friend who provided motional support and help to Larry in all aspects of his life.

Donations may be made to the Seneacquoteen Cemetery at the Sandpoint Columbia Bank branch or the charity of your choice.