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Larry F. Rathe, age 79, of Murrells Inlet, passed away March 3, 2024 at Embrace Hospice House. He was born November 4, 1944 in Waterloo, Iowa to the late Frederick & Nora Hennings Rathe. Larry was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend, and fisherman to many and proudly served our country in the United States Army where he received an honorable discharge. A member of Shepherd of the Sea Lutheran Church, Larry served on Church Council as President, served as usher, and an assistant minister. He always held the heart of children in teaching them about being an acolyte. He also served on the Social Ministry Committee, Synod Council as Property Chairman and was instrumental in renovating the synod office in Columbia and also finishing the construction of Cristo Rey, one of the many mission churches. In 1998, Larry entered the South Carolina Lutheran Men in Mission Board as Secretary and moved up the chain of command until he became President in 2001. He was also a past president of the South Carolina Lutheran Men in Mission, a member of the Committee of 100 where he served as Honorary Life and Memorial Director, co-chair as president of the Epiphany Conference, and served as President of the Shepherd of the Sea’s Lutheran Men in Mission Unit. Larry was honored to receive the Distinguished Service Award for South Carolina Lutheran Men in 2006 and the South Carolina Men in Mission Lifetime Distinguished Service Award in 2022. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Rathe, who passed away January 26, 2001. He is survived by his daughters, Tina Rathe and wife Emma Kealoha-Rathe, and Teresa Ettenger and husband Kevin; grandchildren, Amber Stanley and Maggie Ettenger; great-grandchildren, Kameron, Kiara, and Sara; brother, Don Rathe, and sister, Mary Brown. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Shepherd of the Sea Lutheran Men in Mission. Funeral service will be held 1:00 PM, Friday, March 8, 2024 at Shepherd of the Sea Lutheran Church, 2637 Hwy. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576, with burial to follow at Ocean Woods Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is serving the family.

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Larry F. Rathe

November 4, 1944 - March 3, 2024