Larry Moore
Larry Kenneth Moore, 85, died Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was born June 10, 1941, to Kenneth and Pauline (Campbell) Moore in Stromsburg, Nebraska.
Larry was united in marriage to Janice E. Fehlhafer on October 1, 1960, in Utica, Nebraska. Their union was blessed with three children: Kathryn, John, and Kristen. The couple started their married life in rural Shelby, then moved to rural Gresham on the family farm in 1970.
Larry was a lifetime resident of the Gresham area, attending Hackberry Grade School and graduating from Gresham Public School in 1958. He spent one year at UNL following high school, studying agriculture. As a teenager, he and his cousins Jim Riley and Dale Moore spent summers on the custom wheat harvest crew, working in Nebraska, Montana, and Canada.
Family was a priority for Larry. He spent much of his childhood tagging along with his dad and uncles, listening to family stories as they worked or relaxed. He quickly grew into the role of family storyteller, preserving the legacy and memories of those who went before him to share with younger generations. He was proud of his kids and grandkids, and was always interested in their diverse activities and accomplishments. He helped host several family reunions and enjoyed when relatives returned to the farm to visit or learn more about their roots.
Larry farmed his entire life; first with his father and brothers, and then with his son, brother, and grandson. Over the years, the operation involved hybrid seed corn, cash grain crops, dryland and irrigated land (both gravity systems and center pivots), a cow-calf herd, and a hog confinement building. The farm has been involved in water management and scheduling since the 1970s. Larry was instrumental in having the farm start experimenting with cover crops and no-till farming in 1989. Currently the farm is 100% cover crops and no-till planting. Larry was very proud of the way he was able to incorporate his two great loves: farming and conservation of our natural resources. He firmly believed you could not do one well without the other. He practiced good stewardship and encouraged others to do the same.
Larry served on the Upper Big Blue NRD board from 1975-2022. During this time, he served as Chairman for six years, Vice-Chairman for one year, and served on all of the different committees throughout his tenure. Additionally, Larry was a member of the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission from 1982-1986, serving as Chairman in 1986 and Vice-Chairman in 1985. From 1987-1991, and again from 2011-2019, Larry served on the Nebraska Association of Resource Districts. While on the NARD, he served two years as Vice-Chairman and was the state representative to the National Association of Conservation Districts Council. He was involved in NARD lobbying efforts in Washington D.C. in 1980, 1981 and 2007. Larry was honored for his service to Nebraska Conservation with NRD Director of the Year in 2022, and was inducted into Nebraska Natural Resources Districts Hall of Fame in 2024 with several family members in attendance. In addition, Larry was bestowed an Admiralship in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska for his work with Nebraska’s natural resources. He received many other honors and awards throughout his time on the Upper Big Blue NRD board. Projects that were especially dear to his heart included establishing the Niobrara River as a National Scenic River and working to develop and draft rules and regulations for the groundwater quality control area.
Larry was also active on many local boards, including the Gresham Grain Co-Op Board, Gresham Community Club, Butler County Planning Commission, and the Read Township Board. Larry served on the Gresham Centennial Commission, where he spent many hours contacting people and collecting stories and pictures for the Gresham Centennial history book. Most recently, he attended a series of historical presentations of small towns in Butler county and was interviewed as part of that project.
Larry always enjoyed reading books. He loved a variety of genres, but especially enjoyed history and natural resources. He had a passion for firearms, including collecting, hunting, and trapshooting with his son and grandchildren and extended family until his health no longer allowed him to participate. He competed in antique tractor pulls with his Massey Harris 44, something he enjoyed with his son, John, and son-in-law, Roger. Larry also enjoyed traveling across the country with his wife, Janice, and his sister-in-law and brother-inlaw Nancy and Gail Wolfe. They traveled to both the east and west coasts, as well as Texas, Canada, andAlaska. Every trip sounded like an amazing adventure that created lots of wonderful memories. Larry never met a stranger and seemed to be able to strike up a conversation wherever he went.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Pauline Moore, brother and sister-in-law Bryon and Janice (Kaufman) Moore, brother Gregg Moore, parents-in-law John and Florence (Knorr) Fehlhafer, sisters-in-law Lola (Fehlhafer) Tonniges, and Nancy (Fehlhafer) Wolfe.
Larry is survived by his wife Janice of Ulysses; daughter Kathryn (Bart) Dye, Alliance; son John (Angie) Moore, Shelby; daughter Kristen (Roger) Wilton, Gresham; grandchildren Alyssa (Tom) Milstead, Henry; Chase Dye, Alliance; Max Moore, Gresham; Sabra (Theo) Prusia, Gresham; Wayne and Ami Moore, Seward; Samuel (Taylor) Wilton-Cooper, Plattsmouth; Ann (Charles) Briggs, Lincoln; Clare (Jake) Bierbaum, Gresham; William Wilton, Lincoln; great-grandchildren Ansel Milstead, Reuben Prusia, Benjamin Wilton-Cooper, Mary and Elizabeth Bierbaum; brothers Rodney (Mary) Moore, Knoxville, Tennessee; Mike Moore, Ulysses; sister Joan (Lynn) Black, Omaha; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Joyce (Al) Sheehan, Seward; brothers-in-law Gail Wolfe, North Platte and Ron Tonniges, Lincoln; numerous nieces and nephews, family and friends.
Memorials are suggested to the Raymond A. Burke Scholarship Fund, the Gresham Volunteer Fire Department, the Quilts of Valor Foundation, or the donor’s choice.
A private funeral service will be held on Tuesday August 18, 2026 with a public graveside service and lunch following. Lunch will be held at the Gresham Community Center.