Larry Hinderliter of Great Bend passed away on Sept. 16, 2016, at the age of 72. He was born on Aug. 25, 1944, to Heber Pickering and Eva Monahan Pickering in Kinsley. After the death of his father when he was a young child, he was adopted by Roy Hinderliter. He married Shirley Jones Hinderliter from Studley in 1967 and settled in Great Bend.
Larry was a retired Tool Pusher for Val Energy in Wichita where he oversaw one of the best crews in the business and loved every minute he was at the rig. He would often drive three hours in the middle of the night to fish a tool out of a hole or fix a hole that had caved in. He was also the owner of The General Store in Great Bend before closing it to go back to the oilfield in 2002.
Larry was well respected in the oil industry and there aren’t many men who knew as much or about an oil rig as he did. As an old oilfield maxim states, “There’s some things a roughneck won’t do, but there ain’t anything he can’t do.” This describes Larry perfectly.
He was a man defined by his work ethic and had the grit and fortitude to give his family a life he was proud of. He often called himself a simple man but those who knew him best know he was anything but. He loved his family, enjoyed making others happy and loved watching the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs play.
Larry is survived by his wife Shirley Hinderliter of Great Bend; his son Scott Hinderliter and wife Lisbeth of Wichita and grandson Zach; and his daughter Michelle Lynch of Anna, Texas, and grandchildren Samantha and Smith; two brothers, John Smith of Texas and Jim Smith and wife Patty of Edmond, Okla.; sisters-in-law Sandy Smith of Mulvane and Nan Smith of Ulysses; and a host of nieces and nephews that he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Dan Smith, Courtney Smith and Thomas Hinderliter; and sisters Patsy Smith and Charlotte Pickering.
A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date. Memorials can be made to the Great Bend Humane Society, 151 S. 281 Highway, Great Bend, KS 67530 or Hands of Hope Rescue, 4827 Camelot Drive, Great Bend, KS 67530 in his name.

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune Sept. 23, 2016**