Lawrence Peter Ryckman, 83, Pollock SD, died Thursday, March 24, 2011, at Medcenter One in Bismarck. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am Monday, March 28, 2011 at Pollock Memorial Presbyterian Church, Pollock, SD with the Reverend Floyd Haan officiating. Burial will be in the Spring Valley Cemetery, Pollock, SD. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 27, 2011 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the church in Pollock with a prayer service at 7:30pm. Lawrence Ryckman was born July 18, 1927, at his parents' farm in rural Emmons County. Lawrence and his brothers and sisters celebrated the 100th anniversary of the family farm in 1988, and the family was one of four centennial families featured in "Four Families of North Dakota" published in North Dakota Horizons.Lawrence began school at age 5 when he ran away from home to follow his older siblings to Kunz rural school; to attend high school he boarded in town. He graduated from Pollock High School at age 16 in 1944, and worked on the family farm until he was drafted into the United States Army. He trained as an airline and engine mechanic, with 16 weeks of basic fundamentals and six weeks of specialized training in the maintenance of P-51 aircraft. He was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1947, and returned to work at the family farm. When he was at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in April 2010, he explained in detail the types of engines on display at the World War II exhibit.On Oct. 15, 1949, he married Irene Kruger in Bismarck, ND, and they lived at the Fred Ryckman farm until the following spring, when they moved to their farm in rural Emmons County. They lived there until 1985, when they bought a home in Pollock. He retired from farming and ranching in 1990.During his retirement, he enjoyed helping his son Perry D. at the farm, spending even more time with his children and grandchildren, friends and neighbors, especially frequent family gatherings at the homes of his children. Lawrence was an avid fisherman throughout his lifetime, and some of his children's and grandchildren's best memories, beginning in early childhood, are about fishing at the Missouri River near the farm. Recently, he enjoyed a three-week trip to Alaska, where he went fishing off Homer and caught his limit of halibut.Lawrence was president of the Pollock Senior Citizens Center, and until recently, delivered meals to senior citizens and was all-around helper and handy-man at the Center. Survivors include his wife, at home; children: Kathie (Owen) Anderson, Norman, OK; Fred (Deb) Ryckman, Williston, ND; Brenda (Gary) Larson, rural Herreid, SD; Perry D. Ryckman, Pollock; Renee Ryckman (Brent Alexander), Louisville, KY. Grandchildren: Erin (Jeff) Turner, Billings, MT; Beau (Sarah) Larson, West Fargo, ND; Thomas Anderson, Knoxville, TN; Katherine Anderson, Norman, OK; Megan Ryckman, Grand Forks, ND; Dylan Alexander, Louisville, KY; Logan Lawrence Alexander, Louisville, Ky.; great-granddaughter Lauren Turner, Billings, MT, and another great-grandchild in the fall.Survivors also include sisters, Lillie Jackson, Hawthorne, New Jersey; Mildred Vander Laan, Bismarck, ND; Leona (Al) Vander Vorste, Mesa, AZ; Verda Schaffer, Pollock, and brothers, Harold (Mary) Ryckman, Ronald Ryckman, Arlo (Lenore) Ryckman, all of Pollock, aunt, Gertie Huisingh, Seattle, WA, Kruger relatives, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Mary (Boschker) Ryckman; siblings, infant brother Peter Harold, Angeline Pollock, Floyd Ryckman, Harvey Ryckman.