Larry was born January 5, 1947, in Marshalltown to Lyle W. and Frances A. (Peterson) McKibben. He grew up living on farms near Marshalltown, Riceville, and Buckingham, IA. His family moved back to Marshalltown and purchased a farm west of town in 1959 when he was in 7th grade. Larry was known to hop on a combine each fall at the family farm that is still run by multiple generations of the McKibben family.

Larry graduated in 1965 from Marshalltown High School, studied at Marshalltown Community College, and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science in 1970 from the University of Northern Iowa. At UNI, he met his future wife, Marlene (Hamilton), at a Sigma Alpha Epsilon/Gamma Phi Beta fraternity party. They were married in January 1969.

He then joined the Iowa Army National Guard Officers Training Division and received an Honorary Medical Discharge due to a hip injury in his youth.

Larry and Marlene relocated to Iowa City where Larry completed his Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1972. In 1973, they moved back to Marshalltown and Larry joined the Mote, Wilson, and Welp Law Firm (now the Moore, McKibben, Goodman, and Lorenz, LLP) where he practiced farm and tax law until retirement in 2021.

Larry was a lifelong member of the noon Rotary Club in Marshalltown and sat on the Marshalltown School Board for 6 years. He was the founding member of the Marshalltown I-Club in 1975. Larry served as an Iowa State Senator from 1997 to 2010 and then as a member of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa from 2013 to 2019. Larry received the University of Iowa College of Law Alumni Award for Service in 2020.

Larry cherished every moment with his wife and family and loved the Lord almighty. He considered the education of children to be an essential element of society and growth. Larry spent years coaching girls softball and Little League games, umpiring, and attending as many events of his children and grandchildren as he could. He enjoyed watching high school and collegiate sports, boating, golf, fishing, and biking in his free time.

Larry is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marlene; his son, Mark (Laura) McKibben; daughter, Katie McKibben; grandson Brant (Bre) McKibben; grandson Luke (Grace) McKibben; brother David (Linda) McKibben; brother Don (Becky) McKibben; sister-in-law Valerie (Dan) Smith; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The McKibben family would like to thank the staff at The Willows for the excellent care that Larry received over the past several months.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the First Methodist Church (202 West Main St, Marshalltown, IA 50158) or in care of the Larry and Marlene Endowed Scholarship (University of Northern Iowa Foundation, 204 Commons, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0282. Please indicate it is for the McKibben Scholarship). The scholarship funds benefit a first-generation undergraduate student from Iowa who is studying to be a future educator.