Larry Neal Ashburn

Larry Neal Ashburn, 89, of Paynesville, Minnesota (formally of DeGraff and Benson) peacefully passed away Sunday, March 3, 2024, at his home surrounded by family under the care of CentraCare Hospice.

Visitation will be held 10:00 a.m. – 11: 00 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 9, 2024, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson. A private family interment will take place at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Larry Neal Ashburn was born January 17, 1935, to Vinton Ashburn and Christine (Neal) Ashburn in Pennock. He attended school in Murdock and graduated in 1952.

Immediately following school, he proudly served in the United States Army for two years. He was stationed in Korea with the 7th infantry Division and Combat Engineers.

Following his return, he worked for Group Health Mutual selling insurance. Later, Larry started working for the US Postal Service, as a rural mail carrier for the DeGraff and Murdock area, for 25+ years. Larry eventually found his passion in Real Estate and soon owned and operated Ashburn Real Estate and Appraising as a Certified Federal Appraiser. He retired in 2016 after 38 years.

Larry was united in marriage to Margaret (Joan) Simmonds,  November 26th, 1960, at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in DeGraff. This union was blessed with five children. Larry and Joan lived in DeGraff for 40 years. They then built a beautiful home in Benson where they lived until moving to Paynesville in March of 2020. Larry treasured time with family and friends, enjoyed traveling to Mazatlán Mexico, and most of all cherished the many activities of his children and grandchildren. In later years, Larry always looked forward to morning coffee with his Benson friends. Larry was a man of many hobbies which included gardening, fishing, cooking, playing cards, and cribbage, and deer hunting with his boys.

Larry will be remembered for his outgoing personality (most of the time, with no filter) and sense of humor which was beyond compare at times. He always made everyone laugh with his real-life stories and was always the life of the party. Larry had a knack for making people feel welcome and could always strike up a conversation with people he had just met.

Larry was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Ashburn; his son, Michael Ashburn; and parents; siblings: Wallace Ashburn, Ronald Ashburn, Verna Feller, Audrey Jasicki, and Royal Ashburn; brothers-in-law, Marvin Feller, Arnold Jasicki, Ralph Moline, and Gary Harguth; sister-in-law, Muriel Ashburn; parents in-law Francis and Margaret Simmonds.

He is survived by his children: Kathryn (Mark) Dingmann of Paynesville; Jon (Lisa) Ashburn of Sunburg; Dan (Katie) Ashburn of Dayton; Tom Ashburn of Minneapolis; 10   grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; siblings: Joyce Moline, Jim (Twyla) Ashburn, Carol (Joe) Simmonds, Dennis (Elaine) Ashburn, Elaine Harguth, and sister-in-law Lucy Ashburn.

A special thank you is extended to Father Glenn Krystosek (St. Louis Catholic Church – Paynesville) and to the CentraCare Hospice, Home Health and Koronis Place staff for their loving and compassionate care. Memorials are preferred to CentraCare Hospice.

Zniewski Funeral Home of Benson is assisting the family with the arrangements.