On a summer morning in Wilsall, Montana, rancher and musician Larry set out to cut hay with his faithful dog, Patsy, by his side. What began as a routine chore turned dangerous when his tractor suddenly caught fire. Fueled by a ruptured hydraulic line and summer heat, the flames spread rapidly. Determined to prevent a large-scale wildfire, Larry drove the burning tractor onto a nearby gravel road, suffering severe burns to his face, arms, and back in the process.

With his cell phone melted by the heat, Larry raced home to call 911. Neighbors, spotting smoke on the horizon, rushed to help—friends, first responders, even the local coroner. Wilsall Volunteer Fire Department contained the blaze, and Livingston Fire & Rescue transported Larry to Livingston Healthcare, where doctors quickly recognized the need for specialized burn care.

Life Flight Network’s Pilatus PC-12 from Butte arrived to fly Larry to the University of Utah Burn Center. At first, Larry resisted the idea of being transferred—worried about cost, time away from his ranch, and unfinished haying. But when the crew arrived, his fears faded. “The care from the crew set the tone,” he recalls. “And that tone was comforting.”

Larry spent a month in Salt Lake City undergoing skin grafts, wound care, and rehabilitation before returning home to his ranch, his wife Val, and his community. Friends and neighbors had rallied around him—finishing his hay, tending his cattle, raising money, and ensuring everything was cared for while he healed.

Today, Larry is back to ranching, sharing music with his band, the Ringling 5, and spreading his infectious humor. Though he mourns the loss of Patsy in the fire, he remains deeply grateful—for his neighbors, his medical teams, and for the Life Flight Network crew who gave him the chance to keep living the life he loves.

As a former county commissioner, Larry continues to advocate for rural emergency access and equal care opportunities, knowing firsthand how vital they are.