Leland R LaRose

Leland Robert LaRose, 85, of Fairfax, South Carolina, entered into rest on Friday September 25, 2026 at his daughter’s house in Colleton County.

Leland was born on January 23, 1941 in Benson Mines, New York to the late Charles LaRose and the late Cecelia Elizabeth Folley LaRose.

After graduating high school, he joined the Navy in 1960. Following basic training he was sent to corpsman school at NAS Pensacola, FL, where he met a beautiful young corpsman and his future wife, Judy Burns. They married in 1961 and began a family. In 1966, HM2 LaRose was assigned to the 3rd Bn 4th Marine Regiment as the senior corpsman for K company. They deployed to Vietnam where he saw heavy combat. It was during this deployment that he felt the calling to serve the Lord. Following his tour in Vietnam, he deployed to the Mediterranean, and then transferred to Naval Hospital Bethesda, MD after attending X-Ray repair technician school in, CO. From there, he transferred to Camp Pendelton, CA where he retired as a Chief Petty Officer after 20 years of honorable and faithful service.

The family then moved to Missouri where he worked as an Industrial Arts teacher and baseball coach while building his family home in rural Pickering, MO. It was there he was ordained as a minister in the Nazarene Church. He pastored the Nazarene Church in Maryville, MO and then pastored in Clarinda, IA. During this time, he also led bible studies in Tarkio, MO, lead a prison ministry in Maryville, and led several foreign missions. Along the way he found the time to earn a bachelor’s degree at Northwest Missouri State University. He retired from the ministry in 2003 but never stopped spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.

He shared over 60 wonderful years with his loving wife Judy before her passing in 2022. Leland moved to Fairfax, SC that year to be near his daughter and son, Thomas, but his heart remained on the homestead in MO. Leland enjoyed painting, woodworking, fishing, and visiting and talking with his many friends and family. He was a proud life member of the American Legion, Leland positively impacted innumerable lives during his 85 years and will be greatly missed.

Leland is survived by his son Thomas Richard LaRose and daughter Leanne Tingley (DelRoy) both of Islandton, South Carolina; sister Charlotte Woods of New York; brother Randy LaRose of Florida, grandchildren, Zachary Bottiger, Adam LaRose, Jake LaRose, Creighton LaRose, Cecilia LaRose, Medora LaRose, Seth Tingley, Caleb Tingley; and great-grandchildren Pearson Bottiger, Colton Bottiger, Sullivan Bottiger, Orley LaRose, Birch LaRose, and Seth Tingley. Leland was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the newest LaRose great-grandchild, who is due very soon.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a son Brian LaRose, brothers Daniel LaRose, Chuck LaRose, and Nick LaRose; and sister Shirley Hertle.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Bram Funeral Home in Maryville, MO on 20 October 2026 at 11 a.m. A fellowship gathering will follow.

In lieu of flowers on-line donations may be made to one or both of his favorite charities, the Nodaway County Senior Center (https://nodawayseniors.com) or The Kansas City Rescue Mission (https://shelterkc.org), in memory of Leland LaRose.