Lawrence Furstenberg

Born and graduated from high school in Big Timber, Montana.

Graduated from Montana State University, Bozeman and St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.

Served in the US forces from 1953 to 1976, including command of the 1st Marine Air Wing in Vietnam 1968, and receiving two Bronze Stars for valor and the Air Medal Strike Flight Award.

After his military service, he worked for Quality Business Systems in Billings for 20 years before final retirement.

Sources

The Mauland Family origin and offspring edited by Torgeir Edland Nærbø 1962 (Prepared for Mrs. Hazel Bjork, Park Ridge, Illinois, copied by Harold M. Tetlie.).

(By Irene Røyneberg)

Lawrence's engagement to Betty Jo Loftsgaarden was announced in the Billings Gazette on Jan 17 1954. At that time, Lawrence was a Naval Air Cadet.

• Obituary in Billings Gazette - states that his birthdate was Jan 6 1932.

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GEDCOM Note

<div class="Box-sc-5gsflb-0 Text-qbt5xm-0 ObituaryText___StyledText-sc-1vgmcq9-0 fRUyiB" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #404f57; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-left: 80px; margin-right: 80px; font-family: 'PT Serif', serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-hyphens: auto; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: normal; max-width: 544px; background-color: #ffffff;" data-component="ObituaryParagraph"> <p>Say what you will about him: arrogant, cocky, boisterous and a fun-loving fool to boot - he has earned his place in the sun. Across the span of years, fighter pilots have given this country some of its proudest moments and most cherished military traditions. But fame is short-lived and little the world remembers. Here's to you for your spirit, enthusiasm, sacrifice and courage - but most of all for your friendship. Yours is a dying breed and when gone - the world will be a lesser place.</p> <p> </p> <p>Lawrence Furstenberg was taken from his loving wife and children April 22, 2003, after a hard fought and courageous battle with cancer. He passed away at home, refusing to leave his wife and family.</p> <p> </p> <p>He was born Jan.6, 1932, in Big Timber, to Lawrence and Aasa Furstenberg. He graduated high school in Big Timber in 1950. He attended Montana State University in Bozeman and St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., prior to entering naval flight training in 1953. He married his high school sweetheart, Betty Jo Loftsgaarden in June 1954. He was designated a naval aviator in November 1954 and reported to VMF-314 at El Toro, Calif. In 1955, he resigned from the U.S. Navy to join the United States Marine Corps. In 1956, he reported for a tour of duty at the Naval Air Training Command, which was followed by a 15-month tour with the 3rd Marine Recon Battalion in Okinawa, Japan. From 1960 to 1962, he served as operations and maintenance officer of the Marine Air Rescue Training Depot in Olathe, Kan. In 1962, he reported to Marine Air Group-31 at Beaufort, S.C., where he served with VMA-331. He flew A-4D Skyhawks during the Cuban Missile Blockade. He served with VMA-331 until he returned from a 15-month Med-Cruise aboard the USS Forrestal. He transferred from MAG-331 in 1966 and served at Head Quarters Marine Corps in the office of the deputy chief of staff (air) at the Pentagon.</p> <p> </p> <p>He was assigned to Vietnam in May 1968. In Vietnam, he served as commanding officer of H&HS, 1st Marine Air Wing and Marine Air Base 12. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned Marine Air Group 24 until the end of his Vietnam tour.</p> <p> </p> <p>In January 1971, he was given command of VMFA 122, an F-4 Squadron based at Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station in Hawaii.</p> <p> </p><p>In 1972, he was stationed again to Head Quarters Marine Corps at Quantico, Va., where he graduated from the Command and Staff College, later becoming an instructor at Command and Staff. He did hisfourth and final overseas tour in Okinawa, Japan, with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron-1. He received two Bronze Stars for valor, for close tactical air support and the Air Medal Strike Flight Award for meritorious achievement during combat support missions against insurgent communist forces in Vietnam.</p> <p> </p> <p>He retired from the Marine Corps Oct. 1, 1976, and returned to Montana.He worked for Quality Business Systems in Billings, where he became a CFC. He worked for QBS for 20 years before retiring permanently.</p> <p> </p> <p>He spent his remaining years never leaving the side of his lifelong love, Betty Jo. He loved to play golf, travel and spend time with children and grandchildren.</p> <p> </p> <p>Larry was preceded in death by his mother and father, Aasa and Lawrence; and his son, Mark.</p> <p> </p> <p>He is survived by his wife, Betty Jo; his son, Lawrence III, and his three children, Ashley, Michael and Kelsey; his daughter, Heather and her two children, Jessica and Joshua; his son, Kris and his wife Diane and their three children, Stefani, Kristina, Elizabeth; his son, Eric and his wife Tami and their two boys, Gunnar and Ian.</p> <p> </p> <p>Larry was a fine man who spent his life devoted to his wife and children. We will miss him.</p> <p> </p> <p>Memorial services will be Saturday, April 26, at Atonement Lutheran Church, 407Wicks Lane, at 10 a.m. Inurnment will follow at 3 p.m. in Big Timber. Memorials can be made to Big Sky Hospice, PO Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107.</p> <p> </p> </div> <div class="Box-sc-5gsflb-0 Text-qbt5xm-0 iVTHRL" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #404f57; margin-left: 80px; margin-right: 80px; margin-bottom: 24px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 24px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-hyphens: auto; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: normal; max-width: 544px; background-color: #ffffff;" data-component="ObituaryEndorsementText">Published by Billings Gazette on Apr. 23, 2003.</div>