Lawrence "Larry" Dexter Fauque

Lawrence "Larry" Dexter Fauque

July 11, 1942 - May 12, 2023
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Lawrence "Larry"'s Obituary

On the date of May 12, 2023, at 7:28 AM, Lawrence “Larry” Dexter Fauque passed away peacefully at home with his wife of 59 years and his children by his side.

A memorial mass will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Great Falls, Mt., with a reception to follow to celebrate his wonderful life. 

Larry was born in Shelby, MT on July 11, 1942, to Joe and Mildred Fauque. He was raised in Sunburst, MT on the Ohio Oil Camp with his sister and brother. After graduation from North Toole County High School, he went on to begin the journey of becoming one of the best science teachers in the world. He attended the College of Great Falls where he majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry and received a Bachelor of Arts degree. On September 7, 1963, Larry married the love of his life Maria Kubis. They began their family soon after, raising and nurturing four children. Over the next several years, Larry continued to pursue his master’s degree in biology. This included education through Northern Montana College, Eastern Washington University, Ottawa University, and eventually earning his master’s from The University of Montana. Larry received his first teaching job at Hingham High School, where he taught from 1964-1969. It was at this point that Larry decided to return to his stomping grounds in Sunburst, MT where he spent the next 40 years educating, influencing, and mentoring hundreds of students. It was there that Larry gave life to the Individualized Science Investigation program, where over the years he led and accompanied 77 students to international science fairs, and taught the subjects Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Botany, Zoology, Genetics, Microbiology, Earth Science, and Physical Science. Although Larry was a schoolteacher, his lessons went far beyond books. He genuinely loved and cared for each and every one of his students. They were all an extension of his family, and the utter core of who he was. He was genuine, humble, and caring. It did not matter who you were or where you came from, everybody was equal in Larry’s eyes. He was also a class sponsor, JV basketball and assistant track coach, concession manager, national honor society selection committee member, People to People exchange program leader, and Science Club sponsor. The number of awards and honors he received over the years are far too many to list, with two of the most significant being the Silver Spur Award and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science. One of his favorite experiences involved the NBC Today Show in 1983. They featured a story involving his science program and the Sunburst School and community. Larry was flown to New York City to appear as a guest on the Today show. He could never stop talking about sitting next to Cheryl Tiegs in make up! Upon Larry’s retirement in 2009, he was bestowed the honor of having the grand award at the Montana State Science Fair named after him. In 2016, the lab at NTCHS, that Larry spent thousands of hours in, was dedicated, being named The Larry Fauque Science Center. When Larry was not doing what he was born to do at the school, he loved to spend time with his family, fish, mow, tinker in his yard and shop, help his brother on the farm, and watch the Yankees, Griz, and Fighting Irish.

Larry is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Maria; children, Michelle (Chris) Field, Paul (Jennifer), Jeff (Janice), and Kim (Shawn) Balog; sister, DaRae; brother, Randy; eight beautiful grandchildren, Bailey, Dakota, Lacey, Mackenzie, Hattie, Spencer, Cameren, and Addie; and many special nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his infant sister; parents, Joe and Mildred; brother-in-law, Gary; sister-in-law, Diane; and many close friends.

His Lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you a ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Mathew 25:11

Class dismissed Mr. Fauque

Time to go Fishin’

Memorial Service

Holy Spirit Catholic Church
  • Email Details
  • 201 44th Street South
    Great Falls, MT 59405

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