Ralph Arthur Boehner 100, of Greeley, passed away on March 19, 2018, two days shy of his 101st birthday, at Grace Pointe Assisted Living Center in Greeley. Ralph was born March 21, 1917 in Cawker City, Kansas to Fred and Laura (Megli) Boehner.
Ralph was raised on a farm in North Central Kansas. He grew up in another era. He was a true “Sodbuster” plowing virgin prairie along with his brothers. They would start out early in the morning preparing the draft horses and mules for work, then plowing all day walking behind the animals for hours. His father bought the first combine in their region in 1921. It was horse drawn and they changed teams after each circuit of the field to give the horses a rest. It was still many times faster than using a threshing machine. In 1928 his father purchased the first tractor in their area, a 1928 Wallis. They were pioneers in the modern introduction of advanced farming. With that background, Ralph furthered his education majoring in Agriculture at Kansas State University. After graduation, Ralph taught one year of Vocational Agriculture at Ford, Kansas High School.
With the onset of World War II, Ralph enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant at Quantico, Virginia and was then sent to the Marshall Islands in the far Pacific. The Marines were island hopping. They would battle for an island then advance another seven or eight islands isolating the Japanese islands in between because they couldn’t be supplied. Ralph was sent to Eniwetok Atoll and Engebi Island in particular for one of the major battles of World War II. Memories of this part of his life impacted him greatly. Ralph retired as a Reserve Officer with the rank of Major. When Ralph moved to Greeley, he became heavily involved in the Marine Corp League of Greeley. They were one of his pleasures in many ways here in Greeley. In 2017, the Marine Corp League helped plan his 100th birthday. It was clearly one of the highlights of his life.
On June 14, 1946, Ralph married his college sweetheart, Harriett Frances Richardson at her childhood home in Oswego, Kansas. They then moved to Colorado where Ralph managed a number of grain elevators eventually settling in Keenesburg, Colorado where they purchased what became Boehner Mill and Elevator. Ralph operated a successful feed mill for many of the local feed lots while Harriett taught at Weld Central High School. In 1982, Ralph and Harriett retired from the business and moved to Greeley.
Ralph was very involved with his family. He attended sporting events of his sons and grandchildren for many years. In addition, he regularly attended church with the family until he was no longer capable of doing so. Family get togethers were the joy of his life.
He is survived by two sons, Richard (Mathene), Zionsville, Indiana, as well as Dale, of Greeley, and his daughter in law, Pam of Lake Havasu, Arizona. His other son, Kent predeceased Ralph in 2016. Grandchildren, Christina Juarez, Heather Williams, Eric Boehner, Michael Boehner, Michelle Hoff, Leslie Percival, Leanne Jones, Ryan Boehner, Katherine Longman, ten great grandchildren; and one sister, Mary Dillon, 102 years old in Beloit, Kansas; as well as numerous nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Earnest, Earl, and Cecil.
Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 W. 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado. The Funeral Service will be at 10:00 a.m. on March 28, 2018 at First United Methodist Church, 917 10th Avenue, Greeley, Colorado. A celebratory lunch will follow the service at the Church; and Interment with Full Military Honors will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 3400 W. 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado, at 12:15 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Marine Corp League of Greeley, Colorado or to the First United Methodist Church of Greeley, Colorado will be accepted by Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 W. 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18