Larry Douglas Billings, the son of Walter Edwin and Marjorie June (Holste) Billings, was born September 12, 1950, in Creston, IA. Larry died at his home in Hancock, IA, at the age of 74.
Larry grew up southeast of Lyman, Iowa, and graduated from Griswold High School with the class of 1968. He attended Iowa State University for a short time before enlisting in the Navy, where he served four tours in Vietnam while aboard the USS Sacramento AOE-1. He attained the rank of E6 Machinist Mate 1st Class before being honorably discharged on September 12, 1975. After returning to Lyman, he worked on a bridge construction crew and later married Cheryl Nelsen on May 7, 1977, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, IA.
Larry worked at Oakland Beef until it closed and then attended Iowa Western Community College for auto mechanics. He began working at Keast Chevrolet as an apprentice before being employed full-time, eventually becoming the parts manager. He worked 30years at Keast’s before retiring.
Larry loved spending time with family and friends. His hobbies included golfing, raising tomatoes, playing cards—especially pinochle—reading, watching movies, enjoying music, singing karaoke, and telling jokes. Larry was an avid Iowa State Cyclones and Kansas City Chiefs fan. He was a member of the Hancock United Methodist Church and the Oakland Country Club.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Edwin and Marjorie June Billings; brother Bill Billings; and brother-in-law Mike Pierson. He is survived by his wife Cheryl of Hancock, IA; sons Jim Billings and fiancée Gayle “Bear” Carroll of Avoca, IA, and Josh Billings and wife Mandy of Hancock, IA; granddaughters Avri and Orion Hancock; sister Linda Pierson of Oakland, IA; niece Erin Pierson of Blue Springs, MO; sister-in-law Karen Guyer and husband Steve of Hancock, IA; brother-in-law Eldon ‘Butch’ Popp of Walnut, IA; and many other relatives, and friends.
A celebration of life memorial service will take place on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 11:00 AM, at the Hancock United Methodist Church. Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Hancock. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established in Larry’s name. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is assisting the family.
