Larry Edward Townsend

Sept. 26, 1944 – March 27, 2026

Larry Edward Townsend, 81, of Darby, Montana passed away at his home surrounded by his family on Friday, March 27, 2026. Larry was born in Hamilton, Montana on September 26, 1944, the third of four children born to Ernest “Gin” Edward and Margurite Louise (Pfister) Townsend. 

Larry attended Darby Elementary and Junior High Schools until the 9th grade. He later acquired his GED.  He was known throughout Darby for his fun-loving antics and youthful pranks.

In most of his early teenage years, Larry spent much of his time living off the land tending traps in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, and herding horses in the mountains up the West Fork for his father’s outfitting business. During this time, he earned the nickname “Buckshot”; which stuck with him for many years.

As a Recon Marine, he was initially sent to Cuba in April 1961 (Bay of Pigs) and later to fight in the Vietnam War, serving in various capacities including numerous recon missions as a “tunnel rat”, for which the life expectancy of each mission was one-half life! He returned home from the Marine Corp in 1965, with several medals and many commendations, including a sharpshooting record that was not broken for nearly 40 years.

As a devoted son, he worked hard to save the ranch he grew up on. To keep the ranch solvent, he learned to drive big equipment and drove a logging truck for many years.

Larry married April Heyrend in 1964, and had three children: Michelle “Missi” DeLea, Terri Jo, and Larry “Bubba” Craig. Their marriage lasted for 24 years.

Winning his first rodeo at age 13, Larry found a real passion in riding rough stock. After returning from the military, he rodeoed all over the nation riding in all three rough stock events (bareback riding, saddle broncs and bulls). He was a card-carrying member of the RCA (Rodeo Cowboy Association) which later became the PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association). Larry rodeoed professionally from 1968 to 1973 before temporarily moving his family to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1974.

In Alaska, Larry helped build the Alaskan Pipeline hauling heavy equipment and oversized loads up the Haul Road from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay.  When the AK Pipeline was finished, Larry moved his family back to the ranch in Darby, MT in 1979, where he continued as an owner/operator hauling logs from the mountains to the Darby Mill.

Larry coached Darby baseball for eight years, leading the American Legion Bucs to a state title in 1988.

During this time Larry opened up a sporting goods store in Darby, targeting the outdoor needs of hunters and fishermen. However, come rain or shine, just like clockwork, he annually headed into the back country of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness every fall for hunting season. Leading pack strings into hunting camp, Larry stayed in the back country for 6 weeks each year, as was the family tradition for 4 generations.  He often recalled with great fondness the memories created with his family and friends during this time in hunting camp.

Returning to Alaska in 1988, he resumed being an owner/operator, hauling semi loads from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. There he received the Two-Million-Mile Safe Driving Award on the Haul Road, an amazing accomplishment due to the severity of northern Alaska’s drastic driving conditions. After his mother’s death in 1991, Larry returned to Darby in 1994 to take care of his father and the ranch. Gin passed away the following year in 1995.

In 1996 he married Janice Ann (Maybury) Kerr, a registered nurse.  For the next 30 years the two of them raised, trained, and sold world class performance paint and quarter horses, maintaining a sizeable broodmare herd and multiple stallions.

In 1999 Larry brought Cowboy Mounted Shooting to the Bitterroot Valley, often sponsoring state shooting events at the Townsend Ranch. With his extraordinary talent in understanding horses, he eventually trained 14 horses that won world titles, and 12 people who also went on to win world titles.  Larry performed bridleless on his favorite stallion “Cowboy,” for the Olympic dignitaries at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Larry travelled to Sweden numerous times to conduct mounted shooting clinics and was instrumental in starting the WHAO club in Sweden. He was awarded a Royal Spur (from the battle between the Danes & the Swedes in 1676 AD) as a personal gift from the countess of one of the great estates in southern Sweden.

Through the years, Larry helped many troubled kids get their lives back on track, and was affectionately known as “Papa,” to countless young people of all ages.

While he often held forth with his strong opinions, he would give the shirt off his back if someone were in need.  He was a loyal friend, hard worker, a fierce defender of his beliefs, exceptional horse trainer, and was well respected and loved by those who knew him. 

Larry was preceded in death by his parents Ernest and Margurite, sister Cody Mae, daughter Missi Probst, and grandson Anthony Lopez. He is survived by his wife Janice, sister Eleanor, brother Micky, daughter Terri Jo, son Larry “Bub” (spouse: Carolyn Rathbun), and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

Larry did not want a large, formal memorial service, so a conventional service is not planned.  Instead, on May 3, 2026 from 2-4 pm, the family plans to host a less structured gathering at the Darby Clubhouse in Darby, MT. Family and friends will then be encouraged to share their memories of Larry and share a potluck meal. So bring your favorite food dish and memories of Larry, and plan to stay for several hours to fellowship. 

In lieu of flowers, people are encouraged to contribute to the Hospice of the Bitterroot. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.