Larry Cecil McNeff

Larry Cecil McNeff, 82, from Fargo, ND died December 31, 2022 at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. Larry was born in O’Neil Nebraska on June 22, 1940 during World War II. He was the eldest son of Cecil and Viola with three brothers, Gale, Ted and Tim. He lived on a farm until the 8th grade at which time his family moved into government housing located on the outskirts of the small town of Genoa, where he was one house away from his future wife, Marie. They dated in high school. His father Cecil owned the local Ace hardware store and Larry worked at the store to help sell items. One time they had a new refrigerator that they could not sell. Larry devised a way to bundle the refrigerator along with a television and it sold almost immediately. At the Genoa High School Larry was the quarterback of the football team and also played baseball. After graduating high school Larry joined the U.S. Navy and served for two years on the Ranger aircraft carrier as a dental technician. During his first year in the Navy, he returned to Genoa to propose to and marry the love of his life, Marie Olive Rockey. They were wed on September 20, 1958 surrounded by family and friends. After the Navy, both Larry and Marie attended the University of Lincoln Nebraska where Larry obtained a degree in Chemistry and Marie obtained a doctorate in education. Then in 1967 Marie landed a job at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN and Larry found employment at Cargill. While at Cargill he developed a number of patented technologies and became an Animal Scientist. On March 6, 1969 they had a son, Clayton and lived in Wayzata, MN. Larry worked at Cargill for 13 years until 1980 at which time he became a national sales representative for International Stock Foods and his family moved to Hopkins, MN. In August, 1983 he and a partner started SarTec Corporation. By 1985 he bought out his partner in SarTec and he became the sole owner. He later founded Marla Properties LLC with his wife, Marie as well as McNeff Research Consultants. In 1996 he helped his son, Clayton McNeff, Steven Rupp and Professor Peter Carr along with, Jim Rupp, to found ZirChrom Separations Inc. Then in 2007 he co-founded Ever Cat Fuels biodiesel and in 2010 co-founded Mcgyan Biodiesel LLC. As of 2022, the McNeff founded companies employed over 55 people with business interests in several countries. Larry was an inventor or co-inventor on more than 30 patents. He was an avid sportsman and loved spending time outdoors as well as time with his family who adored him. Larry also loved aviation and owned multiple airplanes and loved to travel and see new sights and meet new people. He had a brilliant mind and was bighearted. He was preceded in death by his wife Marie McNeff and his parents Cecil and Viola McNeff. He is survived by his son Clayton, his daughter in-law Denise and three grandchildren Charles, Alexander and Bridget. Memorials may be directed to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).

Tributes

Larry Cecil McNeff

June 22, 1940 - December 31, 2022