Lary served as a Missile Launch Officer in the Air Force. Most of his active duty service was spent in Minot, ND. He served as a Flight commander and a member of the instruction crew at Minot AFB. Lary went on to work for Purdue University for 28 years. He was diagnosed with ALS in April 2010 and lost his fight on May 24, 2011. After Lary's diagnosis he managed to travel to New York City, Chicago, and California several times.