Lawrence H. Hustedt
Aug. 1, 1926 to Nov. 20, 2014
Lawrence Henry Hustedt, 88, passed peacefully away on Nov. 20, 2014 at his home in Atascadero with family members at his side.
Larry was born in San Francisco on Aug. 1, 1926 to parents Walter and Beatrice Hustedt. Although he lived in San Francisco, he loved to be at his grandmother’s (Emma Schroeder) house in Boulder Creek.
While growing up, he spent many weekends and summers in Boulder Creek, exploring and enjoying the outdoors. It was there that he met his future wife, Joan Ralston, who lived across the street from his grandmother’s house.
After high school, Larry joined the U.S. Navy in 1944. While in the Navy, Larry attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and studied Civil Engineering. It was while he was there he learned to fly and earned his pilot’s license, which he enjoyed throughout his life.
Larry and Joan were married on Dec. 28, 1946 in St. Michael’s Catholic Church, where Larry was an active and devoted parishioner his entire life.
After their marriage they moved to Santa Cruz. While there, they had a son, Nick, and a daughter, Christine.
Also while in Santa Cruz, they purchased the lot next to his grandmother’s house in Boulder Creek, demolished the existing house on the property and built their home of 60 years in its place.
Larry and his Uncle John did all the work on the home except for the large stone fireplace in the living room.
The family moved to Boulder Creek in 1953, where Larry opened his land surveying office which closed in 2009 when, because of failing health, Larry and Joan moved to Atascadero to be close to their son and his family.
Larry was a man of many talents. He had jobs as a coal truck driver, garbage man, hard hat diver, carpenter, logger, real estate developer, and land surveyor to name a few.
The skills he learned throughout the years enabled him to make or fix just about anything. His barn in Boulder Creek was legendary for having just about two of everything in it. If you needed something, Larry had it.
His interests including hunting, fishing, RVing with Joan, square dancing, collecting tools, bottles, coins and other items, water skiing, golf, and being with friends.
He was a member of the Sons of the Golden West, Odd Fellows, Good Sam Club, Elks, Foresters, Redwood Squirrels, Lucky Steppers Square Dance Club and a Life Member of the NRA.
Larry was a 30-plus year member of the Boulder Creek Volunteer Fire Department. This was a job he took very seriously. He worked hard to hone his skills for emergency response.
During his time with the Department, he achieved the rank of Assistant Fire Chief. Because of his talents and association with the fire department, in the late 1960s Larry was appointed by then-Gov. Ronald Reagan to the position of Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in Sacramento. He held that position throughout the Reagan administration.
Larry was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Joan; son Nick Hustedt (Suzanne); daughter Christine Hustedt; grandchildren Anna Travis (John), Aaron Dossett and Alexander Dossett (Linda); great-grandchildren John Travis III, Jacob Travis, Ashley Dossett, and Andrea Dossett; step grandchildren Scott Freudenberg (Jennie), Jamie Waistell (Sean); and step great-grandchildren Mia Freudenberg, Emerson and Quinn Waistell.
He is also survived by a sister, Barbara Lister, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
“Poppa Larry” will be missed.
A family graveside service is planned at a later date.
Contributions in his name may be made to the Boulder Creek Volunteer Fire Department
