Larry Wayne Finger was born on May 22, 1940 in Terril, Iowa to Wayne and Lucille Finger. He passed away from pancreatic cancer on June 21, 2024 at home with his family by his side.
In the 7th grade, the family moved to Southern Minnesota. Larry graduated from Tracy High School in 1958 and in 2023 was inducted into the Tracy Hall of Fame. He attended the University of Minnesota, receiving a Bachelors Degree in Physics in 1964 and continued his education by receiving a PhD in Mineralogy in 1967. At that point they moved to a Maryland suburb of Washington, DC where they lived for 32 years.
In June of 1962 he married Denise Lanning of Clara City, Minnesota. They were married for 62 years. To this union were born two daughters, Cynthia and Pamela. The family did extensive traveling both in the U.S. and internationally, having traveled to 36 different countries and islands.
Larry was doing research in mineralogy crystallography at the Carnegie Institution of Washington and had the mineral “fingerite” named after him. He also was heavily involved in computers and programming. In 1996 he received a Humboldt fellowship from the German Government and spent a year researching at the University of Bayreuth. His pioneering research throughout his career continues to guide and influence crystallography today.
After retiring in 1999, Larry and Denise became full-time Rvers and spent the Winters in Mesa, AZ. In 2003 they purchased their home in Smithville, MO where they live. Here he was involved in refurbishing computers for the underprivileged.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Denise; and two daughters, Cindi (Ben) Brinson, Pam (Frank) LaRocca; two grandsons, Riggins and Cael; one brother, Duane, one sister, Bette Ourada; sisters-in-law Marlys Willard and Shari Lanning, and several nieces and nephews.