Lawrence Edwin Cudmore, Jr. "Rattlesnake Pete", 78, formerly of Wessington Springs, South Dakota and a resident of Seward County, Nebraska since 1986 died Monday, October 1, 2018 unexpectedly in his home. Larry grew up on a farm in White Lake, SD, his favorite place in his life. He enjoyed playing the guitar and singing all through high school. Larry loved sports and participated in football and track, plus boxed in the Golden Gloves and was nicknamed "Ape" for his strength and agility. After high school, he went to South Dakota State University to study agriculture and when he got home he convinced his parents to go into dairy. The family also did custom combining from South Dakota to Texas and up to North Dakota. On May 25th, 1962, he married Joyce Smith and together they went on a path of adventure. There was never a dull moment. He fulfilled his dreams of being a dairy farmer, husband, father, brother, and friend to all. His happiest times were on the farm, loving his animals, and teaching his kids all he could about the animals and farming. In 1977, the Cudmore family made the big move to Nebraska and Larry became a manager at many different swine facilities. He followed that path until 2007. Larry loved helping with 4-H horse and beef for many years plus riding in parades on his Comanche with his Indian costume on. He then went to work at the Seward Car Wash where he enjoyed his favorite pastime of talking to people. Larry never met a stranger and always stopped to talk to whomever had a moment. If he knew you, he always had the time for a "hello" and a "how are you?" He had a knack for playing Pitch and you could always count on him to "Shoot the Moon" with only an Ace and Deuce in his hand. Lawrence Edwin Cudmore, Jr. "Rattlesnake Pete" will be missed by many.

Lawrence was preceded in death by his mother and father, Lawrence and Jean Cudmore; three nephews, Terry and Marty Cudmore, Dustin Durst; grandson, Josh Ostrander, brother-in-law, Jim Smith.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joyce Cudmore; three children, Juanita DeBoer-Ostrander (Jim Ostrander), Thad (Michaela) Cudmore, and Lance (Angie) Cudmore respectively; many grandchildren: William Graves, Aaron Behrens, Jeffery Graves, Ashley Chapman, Alexis (Micheal) Miers, Nathaniel (Kaiden) Rea, Adrian Cudmore, Brandon Bright, Sydney (Jonathan) Bos, Cody Cudmore, Chase (Blaire) DeBoer, Kylie Cudmore, and Brandon Cudmore; great-grandchildren: Cole Sharping, Connor Chapman, Chloe Miers, Melladee Graves, Garrett Eivins, Aarabella Eivins, Wyatt Miers, Ryker Bright, Cohen Behrens, and Jameson Bos; five siblings, Gerald (Gloria) Cudmore, Dale (Carla) Cudmore, Rodney (Darlene) Cudmore, Randy Cudmore, Lorie (Larry) Grovenburg; sister–in-law, Judy Johnson and several nieces and nephews. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Lawrence.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Garland American Legion Post #369 in Garland, NE at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 5th, 2018. Come ready to "Shoot the Moon" and play Pitch just as Rattlesnake Pete would have. An additional Celebration of Life will occur at a later date in Plankinton, South Dakota.