Larry "Moe" Gene Moses Obit

LARRY GENE MOSES, known widely as “Moe,” was born Jan. 11, 1937 in Big Lake Township and died Feb. 22, 2025 in Brainerd. The son of Alva and Bertha Moses, he grew up in Big Lake working on the family farm along with his siblings Marion, Marjorie, Joyce, Alva, Duane (Buzz) and Lill. He married Jeanne Hanson in 1956 and they had four children, Jerry, Tim, Dave and Curt before divorcing. He started working at Hoffman Engineering in Anoka in 1958 and he worked at Hoffman for over 34 years while also continuing to farm. He married Ruth Lanser in 1969 and son James was born in 1972. They purchased property by Lower Mission Lake in Merrifield in the mid-70s and after realizing there were few options for hardware and plumbing in the area, they opened “Moe’s Hardware” on Highway 3 in 1983, where the slogan was “Moe for your $$.” Moe’s grew to be valuable resource for locals and cabin owners for over 20 years. Ruthy passed away from cancer in 2001 and Moe’s Hardware was sold in 2002. He was married to Beverly Sears of Brainerd for 20 years until her passing in 2022. Summarizing 88 years of accomplishment is difficult. In addition to his exemplary work at Hoffman, as a farmer, and at Moe’s Hardware, he was a founding member of the Big Lake Sno-Cruisers snowmobile club, founded the Sherburne County Snowmobile Trail Association, founded and remained active in the Crow Wing County Snowmobile Trail Association and was a long-time active member of the Merrifield Marathons and Brainerd Snodeos Snowmobile Clubs, Cuyuna Iron Range Riders and Central Lakes ATV clubs, and the Brainerd Eagles. He was the trail boss of the “Mile Masters” snowmobile group who put on thousands of miles on sleds over the years. He was recognized by Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association as an “Unsung Hero” to snowmobiling in 2010. Preceded in death by parents, siblings, wife Ruthy, wife Bev and son Tim. Survived by sons Jerry, Dave (Jenny), Curt (Sarah) and James (Rawni) and families. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Merrifield Marathons Clubhouse in Merrifield.