John W Boche

John W. Boche, 96, of Salmon, Idaho, passed away February 18 of natural causes. He was born August 11, 1924, to John H. and Martha Boche in Norfolk, Nebraska, where he was raised and educated.

Mr. Boche served in the army from 1942 to 1945.  He earned the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Medal with Battle Star, with the 43rd Infantry Division/ 417th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion.

Following the war, John joined the Postal Service as a mail carrier. He met and married Karin Wolfsteiner on May 16, 1967 in Grangeville, Idaho. It was at this time that John left the Postal Service and began work for the National Park Service. This job led them to the Big Hole National Battlefield in Montana, and Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, among others.

After his retirement in 1979, John and Karin settled in Hamilton, Montana, where he volunteered as a deputy for the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Dept.

Always fit and dapper, Mr. John was ever the fun-loving gentleman. He had a rich sense of humor and enjoyed a good joke. As a Toastmaster he was an eloquent speaker. He was also an active member of Rotary.

John loved working and recreating in the great outdoors. He particularly enjoyed skiing, hiking and fishing in the Bitterroot Valley and surrounding areas.

 A few years after Karin’s death in 2009, John moved to Salmon, Idaho to be closer to his daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn (Ruby) and Bill Kruger.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn and Bill Kruger of Salmon; grandson Jay Yorty and great-grandchildren Theron and Althea Yorty of Mesa, Arizona; nephews Mark and Craig Boche of Norfolk, Nebraska. John was preceded in death by his wife Karin, his parents, and three brothers.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 25, 2021 at Riverview Cemetery in Hamilton with Pastor Paul Anderson officiating.  Military honors will be presented by the U.S. Army, Hamilton American Legion and the Marine Corps League – Bitterroot Detachment.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Bitter Root Humane Association in Hamilton, Montana.

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