Born in a log cabin on his parent's homestead near Tomahawk, Alberta, Lawrence had one older sister, Beulah. The homestead was sold a couple of years after his birth when his parents bought the family farm near Killam. Another brother, Irvin, was born shortly after their relocation to the farm but died of pneumonia complications while still in his youth. Lawrence attended school in the Amity district one-room school house. Several extended trips via train to Nebraska were made to visit relatives during his formative years. After completing grade 8, Lawrence farmed with his dad. He often spent the winters in productive pursuits such as vocational school in Chicago, Bible school in Wetaskiwin, hauling grain, logging, and serving with the Shantymen's Christian Association on the west coast. His hobby of flying a Taylorcraft airplane gave him great enjoyment. In the late 1940's his parents retired to White Rock, BC due to a doctor's recommendation for his mother's health. The farm responsibility fell on his shoulders. His dad, Harlen, died of a heart attack in 1950 and Lawrence brought his mother, Mabel, back to the farm to take care of her. Unable to do this while taking off the harvest, he placed her in a rest home in Edmonton where he met his future bride, Alma Danielson, who had become her nurse. They were married on December 29, 1953 and later became parents of their 7 children: Harvey, Daniel, Edith, Vernon, Ervin, Faith and Sylvia. Lawrence was a good husband and father to his family. He made every effort to read his Bible at the breakfast table and to attend church, as a member of the Killam Baptist Church. In his latter years, he enjoyed gardening and took great pleasure in his grandchildren as the family grew, making several trips to see all of them as they scattered across the continent. At the age of 80, Lawrence proudly obtained his US passport, discovering that being born on the Alberta homestead to American parents qualified him as an American citizen. He will be remembered as a fine example to his family and to all his friends in the community.

Born in a log cabin on his parent's homestead near Tomahawk, Alberta, Lawrence had one older sister, Beulah. The homestead was sold a couple of years after his birth when his parents bought the family farm near Killam. Another brother, Irvin, was born shortly after their relocation to the farm but died of pneumonia complications while still in his youth. Lawrence attended school in the Amity district one-room school house. Several extended trips via train to Nebraska were made to visit relatives during his formative years. After completing grade 8, Lawrence farmed with his dad. He often spent the winters in productive pursuits such as vocational school in Chicago, Bible school in Wetaskiwin, hauling grain, logging, and serving with the Shantymen's Christian Association on the west coast. His hobby of flying a Taylorcraft airplane gave him great enjoyment. In the late 1940's his parents retired to White Rock, BC due to a doctor's recommendation for his mother's health. The farm responsibility fell on his shoulders. His dad, Harlen, died of a heart attack in 1950 and Lawrence brought his mother, Mabel, back to the farm to take care of her. Unable to do this while taking off the harvest, he placed her in a rest home in Edmonton where he met his future bride, Alma Danielson, who had become her nurse. They were married on December 29, 1953 and later became parents of their 7 children: Harvey, Daniel, Edith, Vernon, Ervin, Faith and Sylvia. Lawrence was a good husband and father to his family. He made every effort to read his Bible at the breakfast table and to attend church, as a member of the Killam Baptist Church. In his latter years, he enjoyed gardening and took great pleasure in his grandchildren as the family grew, making several trips to see all of them as they scattered across the continent. At the age of 80, Lawrence proudly obtained his US passport, discovering that being born on the Alberta homestead to American parents qualified him as an American citizen. He will be remembered as a fine example to his family and to all his friends in the community.