Laraine Dunmire, 79, known simply as Lari by her loved ones, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at Medilodge of Grand Rapids.
Lari was born on August 12, 1946 in Carson City, MI, to Charles and Doris Betz.
Lari graduated from Belding High School and graduated with a Bachelor’ degree in Education from Taylor University in 1967. After graduation, Lari taught elementary school before her marriage.
Lari met her husband Vernon (Vern) Dunmire while they were both at Taylor University, and the two married in Belding, MI on July 25th, 1970. The couple lived in Smirna, MI until travelling to Haiti in 1973 for mission’s work. While there Vern and Lari cared for American teenagers who were sent to Haiti for behavioral rehabilitation following a stay in Juvenile Detention.
When the couple returned to Smirna, after seven months, Lari worked briefly with the Migrant Students program, before moving to Illinois in 1974, where she worked with Vern as a Sub-parent, caring for children when their families were away. After this, Lari returned to teaching, specializing in Special Needs Education until 1977, when she chose to stay home, giving birth to the couple’s first daughter Erin (DeGraw) in 1978. The couple welcomed their second daughter Betsy (Call) in 1981. Lari was a Stay-at-Home mother until her children were grown, when she returned to work. She started out teaching toddler Gymnastics and then worked at Field’s Fabrics happily until her retirement in 2017.
Lari was best known for her love of gardening, spending many hours creatively building her garden and the surrounding landscape. She was also an avid seamstress, having learned to sew at a young age. She spent much of her free time in her sewing room, practicing many different forms of hand crafting. She was a wonderfully empathetic and kind woman, with great compassion for the hurting people in her life, and a desire to assist anyone who was troubled or lost. Her home and table were always open to those who needed love and kindness.
Lari is survived by her husband Vernon Dunmire. Her daughters- Erin DeGraw, Betsy (Dustin) Call. Her siblings- Sharon Barrett-Kramer and Michael (Carol) Betz. Her grandchildren America (Mark) Cistaro, and Katherine DeGraw, and her four Great-Grandchildren (Zona, Perpetua, Eulalia, and Veronica).
Laraine is preceded in death by her parents Charles Wayne and Doris Betz, and her Brothers-In-Law Ray Barrett and Richard Kramer.
Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Langeland-Sterenberg.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Langeland-Sterenberg.
Funeral Home, 315 E. 16th St. Holland. Burial will be in Gibson Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, The Grand Rapids Saint Vincent DePaul Association, or the Sisters of Life in New York.
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