

Larry was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee Illinois, and was raised in Bradley, Illinois where he graduated from Bradley Bourbonnais High School. He was a gifted and intellectual scholar. Larry studied at Concordia College in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Fort Wayne, Indiana receiving his Bachelors in Theological Languages. He received his Masters of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri and was ordained on August 11th, 1974. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor in 1988 from Hamline University School of Law in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Larry married Janet Ann Austin on June 24, 1972. They traveled the world and ultimately settled down in Saint Paul. Together they celebrated 51 years of marriage, in which they raised 5 children and were blessed to enjoy 7 grandchildren. As a couple, Larry and Janet loved canoeing, camping and riding bikes, a love passed on down to their family.
Lawrence’s calling as a pastor led him to Montana; Shishmaref, Alaska; East Rochester, New York; and Dakar, Senegal in West Africa, where he served as a missionary. He found a new passion, upon his return to the US, in Agricultural Law, Appellate Law and Immigration Law. He practiced law in Saint Paul until his death this past February. He loved helping people, giving everyone a fair shake, providing justice and safety. His clients also became his family.
Larry is well known for his stories and his love for sharing them (occasionally in a language you didn’t know). He was a kind, gentle and patient man who provided caring hospitality, and welcomed all with a kind word and a gentle tease. He will be dearly missed.
Lawrence is survived by his wife, Janet Ann; his children: Matthew (Consuelo), Seth (Megan), Zachary, Anna (Evan), Leah (Mike); and his grandchildren: Sedona Irene, Austin Santiago, Matthew Merlyn, Elise Genevieve, Sophia Noelle, Noelle Adelyn Jan and Harrison Lawrence. Along with his siblings, Brian Crosby (deceased), Desnee (Tom) Boyle, Kevin (Carolyn) Crosby, and Sean (Della) Crosby, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service with visitation will be held on March 23 at Mount Olive Lutheran Church (3045 Chicago Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota). Visitation: 10 am. Service: 11 am with luncheon to follow. The service will be live streamed: https://youtube.com/live/uO75MWGvjBw
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