Boyd C. McLarty

Boyd McLarty, 76, of Walker, MN passed away on Thursday, January 9th at Sanford hospital in Bemidji, Minnesota after a long illness. 

Boyd was born in Smithers, BC, Canada to Charles and Bethella (Outhwaite) McLarty on June 12, 1943.  He was the oldest of Beth and Charlie’s three children, Boyd, Bob and Marlene. 

He grew up in Regina, SK Canada.  He attended Wetmore Elementary and Central High School where he excelled at several sports including baseball, curling, hockey and football. Growing up, Boyd spent a lot of time in Carberry, MB Canada, with his Grandparents and at the family cabin on Pasqua Lake that he had helped his family build.  In addition to sports, he was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing.  

After graduating from Central High School in June of 1961, Boyd left Canada to attend Bemidji State College where he intended to major in prelaw and play football for the Beavers on a scholarship He later decided to become a teacher and majored in History, Social Studies and Geography.  There he met his wife Ann Netland. They were wed in Bagley MN on September 6th, 1964.  

Boyd and Ann stayed in Bemidji until Boyd completed his education degree in 1965.  He student taught at Virginia High School and took his first job in Mossbank, SK. The first year Boyd mainly taught history, but also had opportunities to teach several other subjects such as French, Composition, Literature and Typing (although he was not much of a typist!). He eventually became the assistant principal in addition to his teaching duties.  Their daughter Lisa was born in the seven-bed hospital in Mossbank.  

Boyd and Ann relocated to Fairfax, MN in 1969 where Boyd was the Assistant Principal, taught history and coached football.  While in Fairfax, Boyd and Ann welcomed a daughter, Kari and son Todd. Boyd and Ann both enjoyed spending time with their family camping and playing sports. Boyd could often be found out in the yard playing with the neighborhood kids, playing basketball in the gym or at the local skating rink where he impressed the kids with his slap shots.  During the summers, Boyd also worked for Fireman’s Fund as an Insurance Adjuster and was museum curator at Fort Ripley.  During his 13 years as a teacher Boyd instilled in his students his love of History.

Although he loved teaching, he felt he could positively influence more students in administration, so Boyd continued his education  at Mankato State University where he took night and summer classes and finished his master’s in 1976 and specialist degree in 1978, allowing him to become a Superintendent.  

He got his first Superintendent post in Lamberton, MN in 1978 where he worked for four years.  While in Lamberton, they welcomed a son, Mack.  

In 1982, Boyd and his family relocated to Walker, MN. Boyd was the Superintendent in Walker for 19 years.  Boyd and his family loved living on the lake and enjoyed swimming, fishing and waterskiing. He also did “Impossible” Sudoku with a pen! The four children all graduated during his tenure in Walker.  Boyd and Ann enjoyed attending many sports and events at school and later received an award from Minnesota Morris for being “outstanding fans”.

Boyd retired from WHA in 2001 but decided to continue working at a career he enjoyed. This took him and Ann to River Falls Wisconsin where he was the Superintendent for another seven years until he retired for the second time in 2008.  Boyd and Ann moved back to Walker where they still resided 

Boyd was asked to return to WHA in 2013 for an additional year when the school needed a temporary Superintendent.  He then retired for a third and final time. He was an educator for 44 years; 31 of those years were as Superintendent of schools.

After retirement, Boyd enjoyed fishing and golfing. He and Ann also enjoyed traveling Atlanta, GA to see their son Todd and his family, spending time in TX in the winter, spending time with family and watching all their grandchildren play sports. They continued to enjoy time on the lake. 

Boyd is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ann (Netland) McLarty, his four grown children: Lisa Struss (Cy), Kari McLarty (Jeremy Busch), Todd McLarty (Kris) and Mack McLarty (Tamara) and 10 Grandchildren: Zach, Kiel and Rian (Lisa &Cy), Chase, Charlie, Addison and Megan  (Todd & Kris), Cale, Colton and Brock (Mack and Tamara). He is also survived by his brother Bob McLarty (Michele) his sister Marlene McLarty, brother and sister-in-law, Barry and Judy Reierson and many family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents Charles and Bethella (Outhwaite) McLarty and in-laws Theodore and Bernice Tereau Netland.

There will be a celebration of life on Sunday, January 26th at the WHA High School in the Old Gym. Visitation is at 1pm, and a memorial at 2pm, followed by refreshments in the school commons. 

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