Lee Larimore

The memorial Mass celebrating the life of Lee Larimore of New York Mills will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 19, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Bluffton with Father Jean-Claude Duncan as celebrant. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the Mass. Burial will be in St John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Bluffton, MN. Lee Bruce Larimore, 84, of New York Mills, MN, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on January 27, 2026, passing peacefully at the Harlingen Medical Center in Harlingen TX. Lee was born on May 27, 1941, in Fairmont MN, to Kenneth and Beryle (Hodgman) Larimore. He grew up in Granada, where he graduated from high school in 1959. Lee attended Mankato State University while working in road construction for his uncle Jack Hodgman. In January 1962, Lee chose to proudly serve his country. He served in the US Navy and was in Vietnam on two tours as a Navy Seabee and was honorably discharged in 1966. He was an American Patriot. After his military service Lee moved to South Dakota, where he worked road construction, farmed, and owned a logging company. In 1975 he returned to Minnesota, settling on full-time farming outside of the New York Mills / Bluffton area. On March 19, 1978, Lee married Clarice Smith Blachowske, the love of his life, and her four children, whom he forever considered his own. They built a wonderful life together, and cherished spending time with their children and grandchildren. He remained loving and committed to Clarice through many years of dementia as her full-time caregiver until her passing in 2017. He missed her every day since. Lee was a jokester with the greatest laugh and made friends wherever he went. He was willing to lend a hand and always had a smile and a positive attitude. He enjoyed skiing, golfing, bowling, hunting, cruising around on his Spider motorbike, Sunday football, fried chicken and cold beer. He was an active member of the Bluffton Lions Club and the VFW post 3922 for many years. Thanks to his mom he was an avid reader, often reading a book a day during retirement. In 2001, Lee and Clarice bought a fifth wheel and traveled the country. They settled on South Padre Island, TX, where he wintered for 25 years, making many longtime friends. Lee is preceded in death by his parents; Kenneth and Beryle; wife Clarice; brother Gene; and grandson David. Survivors are his daughters Julia (David) Bachelder, Bonita Springs, FL and Lisa (David) Goldberg, Duluth, MN; sons Thomas Blachowske, Bainbridge, GA and Peter (Sherrie) Blachowske, Brandon, SD; grandchildren, Joshua, Jared, Eric, Katie, Jessica and 12 great grandchildren; sisters Becky (Dennis) Kjorlein, Jan (Mark) Huber; sister in-law Nancy Larimore; along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

Lee Larimore

May 27, 1941 - January 27, 2026