Lawrence Furney

Lawrence L. Furney, 79, of Lake Poinsett, SD, passed away shortly before midnight on December 12, 2025, at Jenkins Living Center in Watertown, SD. He was a cherished educator, a devoted husband, and a dedicated community citizen.

A visitation and prayer will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at Crawford-Osthus (formerly Johnson-Henry) Funeral Chapel in Arlington, SD.

There will be no burial at this time.

On September 4, 1946, he was born to Herold and Esther (Raabe) Furney. He was raised as the oldest of three siblings on a farm a few miles outside of Scotland, SD. At the age of 11, his father Herold passed away suddenly from a heart attack which designated Lawrence as the man of the house- caring for his mother and younger sister and brother. Upon his father’s death, the family moved into the town of Scotland, SD, where he attended high school and then received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern State College in Spring field, SD, in the late 60s.

His first teaching assignment was as a science teacher in the school district of Charter Oak, IA. While there, he was drafted into the Army for the Vietnam War. Due to an imbalance in his ear, he was given a military discharge during his training camp and never served in military combat. He then applied and was hired as a science teacher in the Lake Preston School District. It was there he met his wife of 52 years, Mildred “Millie” Furney, who was hired as an English and German instructor. They were married in 1972.

Motivated by more challenges and better pay, Lawrence gained his Master’s Degree in Education from SDSU and became the high school principal of Lake Preston during the decade of the 70s. He later applied for the position of school superintendent in the Oldham School District and attended USD for classes that enabled him to receive a Specialist’s Degree in Education. This degree allowed him to be hired as superintendent of the Grant Deuel School Districts for four years. He was then offered the contract of Director of the North East Educational Cooperative Services. With a staff of 80 or more professionals trained to assist special needs students, he and his team served a wide range of small schools in the northeastern part of the state. He retired from this position in 2005 and spent his years on Lake Poinsett- hunting, fishing, and woodworking in the shop in his garage which was also his favorite hangout for pipesmoking and visiting with friends and relatives.

Larry is survived by his wife, Millie; sister, Linda (Tim) Scott of Tea, SD; their children: Rick (Daphne), Stacy (Wade), Tom (Amy), Paul (Casie) and all of their children; sister-in-law, Marcella Furney of Freeman, SD; her children: Chad (Jessica), Brian, Cory (Hannah) and all of their children; sister-in-law, Marlys (Michael) Phillips of Shanghai, China; their children: Jessica and Jaden Phillips; his brother-in-law, Maurice Bueber of Tripp, SD; his children: James, Jon (Kristi) and their children; his adopted family, Wulf and Irene Vogler and their children Lana and Cyrille of Los Altos, CA; and his very dear friend and lake neighbor, Terry Folsland.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Herold and Esther (Raabe) Furney, and his younger brother, Loren Dean Furney.

Arrangements entrusted to Crawford-Osthus (formerly Johnson-Henry) Funeral Chapel                  www.crawfordosthus.com

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