AUGUSTA – Laurent “Larry” Robert Beland, 92, passed away after a brief illness on Oct. 14, 2022, at MaineGeneral Rehabilitation and Long Term Care at Glenridge, surrounded by his loving family.

Larry was born in Augusta on June 5, 1930, a son of Antonio and Irene (Bisson) Beland. He grew up in a large family, and on March 26, 1951, he married Jeannine D. (Rodrigue) Beland.

A hard-working man, Larry was first and foremost a farmer. Larry grew up working on his father’s poultry and dairy cattle farm on Lafayette Street and then on the Eight Rod Road in Augusta. He eventually took over the farm business after his father’s death. All knew Larry as an extremely intelligent and resourceful man. He could fix nearly anything! Larry modeled hard work and was a wonderful father to his six children. As an entrepreneur, for several years, while still running the family farm, he bought and operated the Old Scotch Bottling Company in Augusta, where the Orange Crush Brand was born. After the soda business, Larry worked for Frank Pomerleau Inc. as a carpet installer and in appliance delivery. In later years, he was employed in the shipping department at Statler Tissue Company, retiring after 23 years.

As an avid motorcyclist, Larry lived his life literally on a “wing and a prayer,” driving his Honda Goldwing across the country with Jeannine on the back. Shortly after retirement from Statler, they drove 10,000 miles in 30 days, seeing the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Redwood National Forest. Larry loved to play games. He was the best cribbage player east of the Mississippi and loved talking smack while playing horseshoes, usually unnerving his opponents.

Larry and Jeannine volunteered for many civic organizations, including Augusta Food Pantry on Sand Hill, and local prison ministries, where they baked pies and cakes to deliver to inmates. They were also active in mission work, taking trips to El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, where they helped build homes and serve the hungry. They also made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, as a symbol of their faith.

Larry loved the Lord Jesus and was a life-long communicant of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Augusta, where under Fr. Lionel Chouinard’s leadership, he was involved with RCIA, was a Eucharistic minister, was a member of Abnaki Council #334 Third Degree Knights of Columbus, and engaged in the Catholic Charismatic Movement at St. Paul’s Center where he made his Cursillo.

He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Jeannine Beland; his children, Robert Beland and wife Margo, David Beland and wife Lynn, Mark Beland and wife Dessie, Brian Beland and wife Denise, and William Beland; siblings, Reginald Beland, Normand Beland, and Romeo Beland; 24 grandchildren and their spouses, 20 great-grandchildren, and one great, great-grandson.

He was predeceased by his daughter, Michela Leavitt, and her husband, Jack; daughter-in-law, Tonya (Wilson) Beland; one grandchild, Robert Owen; and siblings, Ronald Beland, Armand Beland, Gerard Beland, Lucille Beland, Gisele Bourassa, Juliette Rudnicki, and Aliette Couturier.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, at 11 a.m., at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 75 Northern Avenue, Augusta, Maine. Interment will follow at Holy Family Cemetery on Townsend Road in Augusta, with a reception at Le Club Calumet, West River Road, Augusta, from 1-4 p.m. Arrangements are in the care of Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant Street, Augusta, Maine. Condolences, stories, or photos may be shared by visiting http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Larry’s name may be made to St. Michael School Annual Fund, St. Michael School,

56 Sewall Street,

Augusta, ME 04330

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