Larry Ben Kelsey returned home on August 15, 2016 at the Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Ut. from complications of heart disease.

Larry was born on May 20, 1938 in Paris, Idaho to Ben and Chlotele Sparks Kelsey. He was the fourth of seven children. He grew up in Paris and attended Fielding High School graduating in 1956.

In August of 1961, he met and fell in love with Lila Ann Frankhauser of Logan Utah. After a two week courtship, they were married on the 23rd of August in Elko, Nevada. After the wedding, Larry and Ann left for Fort Bragg, NC where he took basic training after having been drafted despite being turned down for the military previously. They spent 2 years as newlyweds in Fort Bragg, North Carolina where they also welcomed their first child, Laurie.

When Larry was released the family moved to Pocatello, where he worked for the highway department. It was during this time that they added another daughter, Carrie, to their family. They moved back to Paris when he was hired to work at the phosphate mine in Soda Springs, Idaho. Larry and Ann completed their family with the addition of their 2 sons, Dan followed a few years later by Justin. Larry was a mine supervisor for many years as well as being a full time farmer in Paris. He later worked for the US fish and Wildlife Service in Bear Lake, until his retirement in 2003.

His favorite hobby was working. When he wasn't working the job, he was working on the farm. He was an active participant in the local ditch companies and was instrumental in the implementation of the gravity flow system in Paris. He served his community in later years as a member of the Paris City Council. Even after he retired, Larry still loved to work the land. He purchased a winter home in AZ but returned to the family farm every summer.

He is survived by his children: Laurie (Kim) Nate, of Paris, Idaho, Carrie (Doug) Tucker of Boise, Idaho, Dan (Ashli) Kelsey of Paris, Idaho and Justin (Andrea) Kelsey of Georgetown, Idaho as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His sisters: Beth Swenson of Logan, UT, Rosann (Dale) Nealis of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Brothers: Jim and Bob both of Paris, Idaho and a sister in law Dora Lee Caldwell of Ovid, Idaho.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, brothers Darwin and Roscoe Caldwell. Brother in law: Boyd Swenson, Granddaughter: ChyAnn Leonard, and Great Grandson: Liam Hall.

Services will be held Wednesday August 24, 2016 at 12:00 pm at the Paris Stake Center. A family line will be from 10:00 to 11:45 prior to the service. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Kelsey Memorial Fund at the City of Paris, PO Box 364, Paris, ID 83261.