Edwin Boger

Edwin Boger was born on October 7, 1921, to Daniel and Wilhelmina (Horning) Boger near present day Lake Audubon, by the pumping station located along Hwy 83 which splits Lake Audubon and Lake Sakakawea.  Edwin was the fourth oldest of eleven children.  In this large family he learned the value of hard work, family and faith.  After completing eighth grade, he worked for the area farmers to help support the large family he adored.

     When Edwin was 17 or 18, he entered the CCC’s (Civilian Conservation Corps) working on various projects for two years around Kenmare, ND.  Once out of the CCC’s, Edwin worked for a Construction Company building Hwy 83 near Underwood, ND.  He was then drafted into WWII leaving on October 5, 1942.  He told this story remembering it clear as day, “It was 20 degrees above, snowing and the wind was blowing.  The old steam engine pushed snow all the way to Minneapolis on my way to Fort Snelling.  I got sworn in on my 21^st birthday, October 7^th, 1942.”  During the war he served in the 112^th Calvary in the Fiji Islands, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Australia, New Britain and the Philippines.  When the war ended, Edwin was in Tokyo, Japan and saw the signing of the Peace Treaty papers.  After 70 years he stated, “It was an enjoyable journey, but I would never want to do it again.  It would be a wonderful world if everybody would care for each other.”  After the war Edwin traveled back to Garrison. Having a bad bout of malaria, Edwin defied the doctors, proving them wrong by walking again after being hospitalized for a year.  He said his faith is what got him through the war and being paralyzed.

    In 1949 Edwin met Josephine Voigt on a blind date. They married on October 7, 1950.  After they were married they settled in the Burlington area where they ranched with Josephine’s parents for a few years.  He then became an accountant for Minot Livestock, the manager of Behm’s Truck Stop, and a Watkins dealer, where he always had Tootsie Rolls in his vehicle for the kids.  As time went on, his work took him to the road construction world working for Neshem-Peterson Construction.  In 1974 Edwin and Josephine moved the family to Berthold, ND.  Edwin served his community wearing many different hats, serving as an EMT, council member for St. Anne’s Catholic Church, and was an active Lion’s Club Member.  In 1977, Edwin started a new adventure back in Burlington; a woman’s clothing store ”The Casual Corner” and a few years later he opened a conjoined gas station.  Once again, he was handing out Tootsie Rolls to his customers and the kids airing up their bike tires.   Here he served the public in Burlington until 1993 when Josephine passed away, and he decided to retire.  Even though retired, every spring Edwin would work for Lowe’s Garden Center in Minot.

    Edwin married Shirley Olson in 1996 living in Burlington until moving to Bismarck in 2002.  He continued working in the Spring of every year, managing a remote Lowes Garden Center at the North Dan’s Super Value until 2010.  When Edwin was not working, you could find him working in his yard in the garden or always making a new flower bed or out in one of his kids’ yards during the summer. During the winter he enjoyed woodworking, playing cards, hanging out with family and FaceTiming his children and grandchildren – even while they were at work!

    Our family is greatly saddened to have to say goodbye to such a wonderful man. In the words of our sister, we are fortunate to have had a loving father/husband with such integrity, honesty, and compassion. The faith he carried with him through life, ability to forgive, work ethic, pride of a job well done, and the love he had for his wives and children.  He was always willing to go that “extra mile” for anyone.  He was truly one of the last of the “GREATEST GENERATION”.

    Edwin is survived by his second wife Shirley; children,  Julene Boger, Flagstaff, AZ, Ed (Audrey) Boger, Hazen, Charles (Judy) Boger, Bismarck, Patricia (Harold) Boger-Voigt, Halliday, Mary Jo (Marshal) Boger-Clarys, Mandan;  grandchildren,  Dawn (Ryan) Griffis, Carla (Chris) Spooner, Aaron (Anna) Kremer, Shawn Steward, Jessica (Kyle) Gregerson, Kyle (Megan) Boger, Chad Boger, Jasmin (Matt) Duginski, Chelsea (Jordan) Ensz, Carly (Brandon) Mansfield, Anna and Meghan Voigt, Callen (Stephanie) Clarys, Dane, Tyrel, and Miranda Clarys.  great-grandchildren, Christopher (Kayla) Darling, Cody Spooner (fiancé, Brittany), Kiersten and Brandon Spooner, Kyren, Josie, Cole Thomas Kirton, Leah and Anna Gregerson, Brynlee and Addison Boger,  Scout Duginski, Evallyn and Timothy Ensz, and Max Clarys.  great-great-grandchildren, Oliver Darling-Cree, and Noah Spooner.  Shirley’s children, Rock (Diane) Sahr, Eric (Tina) Sahr  and Amy  Sahr;  brother,  John (Jean) Boger, Lodi, Cal; and Baby Sister, Ruby Boger, Garrison, ND;  sisters-in-law,  Gertrude Boger, MaryAnn Seidler, Katie Haugland, and Barbara Voigt both of Albuquerque, NM; and numerous nieces and nephews.

    Edwin was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Wilhelmina (Horning) Boger; his loving wife, Josephine; siblings, Emma (Arnold) Halquist, Fred Boger, Elmer Boger, Bill (Beverly) Boger, Reuben (Dorothy) Boger, Leo (Catherine) Boger, Alvin (Doris) Boger, and Marlene (Jerome) Bauer;  niece, Tammy  Boger;  great-niece,  Kami Boger;  brother-in-law, James Voigt; sister-in-law, Jeanie (Emil) Kossin; brother-in-law, Glen Haugland; and Shirley’s daughter, Gayle Erickson.

    In lieu of flowers please send Memorials to: 451 51^st Ave SW Hazen, ND 58545 to be distributed to St. Benedictine Living Center, Garrison, ND; North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND; Sakakawea Hospice, Hazen, ND.

    To view to memorial written by Edwin's grandson, Aaron Kremer, click here.