It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lawrence Melvin Kopas on December 27, 2025 in High River at the age of 85.
Lawrence (Larry) was born in Calgary on January 3, 1940, the youngest of six children. He was raised on the family farm west of Okotoks, where he attended school.
After leaving school, Larry married Marjorie Stevenson and they began their family. Larry worked for a short time for McLeod Construction of Nanton, but the vast majority of his life he did what he loved best, working in jobs tied closely to the land. He worked on a few other ranches, but the majority of his ranching career was on the Bar Eleven Ranch, where their four children grew up.
After the Bar Eleven, Larry worked for the MD or Ranchland for over 20 years as an agricultural field man. During this time he and his wife Barb established their own ranch west of Nanton.
Larry was a resilient man who is remembered for his generosity and kindness, his passion and understanding of the local area, and his love for building and creating, using materials he gathered from the land.
Larry is survived by his former wife, Marge Cook, their children Karolyn (Barry) Benger, Janice (Kelly) Cornforth, Weslee (Terry) Kopas, Twyla (Wes) Cyr, his grandchildren Meganne Benger, Kelvin (Megan) Benger, Colter (Jenna) Schlosser, Logan (Megan) Kopas, Kaden (Jocelyn) Kopas, Mandy and Taylor Cyr, and his great grandchildren Cort and Hayes Schlosser and Saige and Chloe Benger. He is also survived by his former wife Barb Kopas, and her children Kathy Wiebe, Randy Patton and Robbie Patton, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his parents, Sheldon and Rhoda Kopas, and his siblings, Bette Thompson, Don, Rod, Hugh and Malcolm Kopas.
A Celebration of Larry’s life will be held at the MD of Ranchland Administration Building on January 17, 2026 from
2 to 4pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the local 4-H.