Larry Lee Franklin Sr., born in Bridgeport, NE on November 3, 1940, died peacefully on September 13, 2017, at Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, OK, he was 76. Larry was one of three children born to Glen and Charlotte (Smith) Franklin. Larry, after graduating high school from Bridgeport, NE, enlisted in the United States Navy. After an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1965, Larry attended Chadron State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. After graduation Larry moved to Hillrose, CO where he started his business career with Western Sugar. In 1972 he met the love of his life Beatrice Carol Koehler Lusby and they were married July 2, 1972. Larry furthered his career with Travelers Insurance Company and moved his family to Broomfield, CO. Larry after a brief stay in Broomfield had the opportunity to move his family to Visalia, CA, where he became CEO of Western Farm Management. The family lived there for 2 years before moving to Torrington, WY, where Larry purchased a 2000-acre wheat farm and started his career as a wheat farmer and cattleman. They lived in Torrington for 33 years where Larry had many successes as a cattleman, commodity broker and rancher. Larry and Carol raised three children together and were married 42 years, Carol after a long illness passed away in Lawton, OK in January 2014. Larry loved to camp, fish, travel, and spend time exploring with his bride, after her death, it was never the same.

Larry was preceded in death by his wife Beatrice Carol Koehler Franklin, his parents Glen and Charlotte (Smith) Franklin, his brother Gary Franklin. Larry is survived by his sister Jana Lou and Fred Flessner of Kearney, NE, his children Lee and his wife Sherry, Patty, and Carole and her partner Jason and his seven grandchildren, Ashlee, Ellee, Shelby, Joshua, Brayden, Arianna and Kiera. He also leaves behind six nieces and nephews and a number of other relatives and friends.

A memorial service is planned for grave side at the Brush Colorado cemetery on Friday, September 22, 2017 at 11:30am with a luncheon planned after at the Brush Country Club "The Course" at 2301 W Mill Rd, Brush, CO. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Elks Lodge, 120 E 20 th Ave, Torrington WY, 82240 or to COPD Foundation, 3300 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Miami FL 33134.