Donald Boke
April 9, 1910 ~ May 23, 2009
Donald Boke, 99, of Gettysburg passed away Saturday, May 23, 2009 at the Oahe Manor.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, May 29, 2009 at the United Methodist Church in Gettysburg with Pastor Suzie O’Connell officiating. Burial followed in the Gettysburg Cemetery. Visitation was held from 3:00 to 7:00 P.M., Thursday, May 28, 2009 at the Luce Funeral Home in Gettysburg.
Donald Boke was born April 9, 1910, in rural Potter County, the fifth son born to Peter and Sarah (Mikkelson) Boke and followed by one more son. When a very young child, the family moved to Oregon and then to Calgory, Canada but returned to farm in South Dakota.
He went to a rural school until high school graduating in 1929 in a class of 25 students including his bother Marvin. During the celebration of Gettysburg in 2008, three classmates remained. At present only one remains.
Donald married Mary Ellen Palmer on August 3, 1936, in Deadwood, SD. Mary was the daughter of Dudley and Helen (McKay) Palmer. She taught many years in South Dakota including Rapid City. They had one son Bruce.
Donald lived over 30 years in Rapid working as a car salesman, a hospital aide, and moved to Gettysburg when Mary died. He has done carpenter work and farming.
Donald was always busy with some kind of carpentry work. He remodeled a two story home making it a one level comfortable home which he lived in until Sept. 2007 when he moved to an apartment and the following summer to the Oahe Manor.
Earlier years he enjoyed traveling and visiting his son and two grandchildren Craig and Joy Lynn. He was a long time member of the Elks Lodge in Rapid City. He was always ready for a good ball game. He enjoyed a dice game played with his nieces and nephews. Don loved music and working in his yard. He shared the love of fishing with his brother John. He loved Lincoln cars!
He is survived by one son, Bruce R. (Daniele) Boke, DDS of Upper Marlboro, MD; two grandchildren: Craig S. Boke of Alexandria, VA and Joy Lynn Boke of San Marcos, TX and numerous nieces and nephews.
Donald was preceded in death by his wife Mary in 1975 and six brothers: William in 1976, Lester in 1975, Harry in 1952, Marvin in 1991, and John in 1998.
Don will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Don's arrangements.
MINISTER
Pastor Suzie O'Connell
ORGANIST
Gail Larson
VOCALIST
Darlene Hofer
Gene Sloat
MUSIC SELECTIONS
"How Great Thou Art"
"It Is Well With My Soul"
CASKETBEARERS
Roy Boke
Craig Boke
Dan Hageman
Steve Boke
Sonnie Boke
Rick Hofer
USHER
Shirley Stroup
FELLOWSHIP
All friends and family are invited to a time of food and fellowship to follow burial at the United Methodist Church Basement
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Sympathy to the Boke family. Don was always so soft spoken,kind and so polite…always a thank you. He was a “sharp dresser” also. To live to be 99 years was great.