Larry Jerome Skalsky, age 90, Dilworth, MN, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 11, 2022, at the Fargo Sanford Medical Center. 
Larry was born on May 7, 1932, in Ada, MN, where he grew up with his parents, John and Emma Skalsky, brother, Roy and sister, Shirley. In 1950 Larry joined the U.S. Army earning both a National Defense Service Medal and an Army of Occupation Medal before his honorable discharge in 1953. Two years later, in 1955, Larry married the love of his life Gloria Cirks, at St. John’s Green Meadow Lutheran Church rural Ada. Eventually moving to Dilworth, MN, where they continued growing their family. Larry spent his years working as a mechanic and supporting his family. Larry can be quoted as telling neighbors he was ‘raising children, not grass’ and spent his days doing just that, proudly raising their 6 children; Laurie, Kevin, Joe, Todd, Tim, and Jason.
In 1982, Larry, Gloria, Tim, and Jason moved to Farmington, MN to follow Larry’s work, where they lived and worked for 24 years. In 2006, Larry and Gloria moved back home, to Dilworth, where they have been near their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and dear friends. In December of 2018, Larry’s bride, Gloria, passed away. Larry has since continued to love, nurture, and cherish their growing family. Larry will always be remembered for his patience, selflessness, that sparkle in his eye while watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren play, cleaning his dinner plate (and possibly someone else’s), and his quiet and calming stories that made everyone around him lean in a little closer. Larry loved life, his family came first and they all knew it, always.
Larry is survived by his sons, Kevin (Marianne), Joe (Carole), Todd (Chris), Tim (Kirsten), and Jason; 9 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Shirley Johnston; brother-in-law Dennis (Claudia) Cirks; and many nieces and nephews. Larry was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Gloria; daughter, Laurie Sams; parents, John and Emma Skalsky; brother, Roy (Anita) Skalsky; and 2 grandsons.
Larry showed his friends, his family, and his neighbors love above all else, and he will forever live in the hearts and the memories of so many. ‘So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.’ John 4:16.
Memorial Service: 3:00 PM, Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at Dilworth Lutheran Church, Dilworth, MN.
Visitation: One hour before the service at the church.
Interment: Ada Municipal Cemetery (To be scheduled on a later date)
Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.fredriksonfh.com
Arrangements with Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Homes
Ada & Halstad, Minnesota
