Lawrence Nicholas Strang, 83, Sturgis, died Sunday, December 20, 2009 at the Sturgis Regional Health Care Center.

Committal services will be 10 a.m. Monday, December 28, 2009 at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with Father Arnold Kari officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard. Friends may gather at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis prior to leaving for the cemetery.

Lawrence was born November 12, 1926 at Clear Lake, SD, to Andrew and Margaret (Hoff) Strang.

He married the love of his life, Irene Friskey on April 10, 1949 at Lead, SD, where they raised their seven children. Larry "Smokey" worked for Homestake Mining Company for 42 years, he retired in 1989 and they moved to Sturgis to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his two daughters, Deb (Steve) Schultz and Nancy (Terry) Corkins, Sturgis; five sons, Mike (Shirley) Strang, Jim (Tami) Strang, Rapid City, Butch (Roxanne) Strang, Sioux Falls, Nick (Toni) Strang, Tracy, CA, Chris (Shannon) Strang, Pueblo, CO.

Ten grandchildren; Shelli (Doug) Hardesty, Denise Mckeown, Mallory Strang, Sturgis, Michael Strang, Summerset, SD, Amanda Mckeown, Spokane, WA, Emily Strang, Deadwood, Curtis and Samantha Strang, Tracy, CA, Nicholas Strang, North Carolina, BJ, Strang, Sioux Falls, SD; seven great grandchildren, Shantel, Jessica and Kyle Hardesty, Ashlin and Kettrick Strang, Malcolm Innes and Brianna Datz; three sisters, Dorothy Beyer, Sioux Falls, Rose Shoenrock, Colman, SD, Rinelda Hunt, Aztec, NM; three brothers, Melvin Strang, Boise, ID, Milton Strang, Alliance, NE, Lyle Strang, Gillette, WY; also many nieces and nephews who he adored and loved very much.

Children and sports were the light of his life. He loved kids. He never missed a sporting event that one of his children participated in. Lawrence will be sadly missed by all who knew him, he was just a Big Ole Teddy Bear!

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Irene, two brothers, George and Sylvester, one sister Alice and his parents.

A memorial has been established to the Shriner's Crippled Children's Hospital.