Howard Boke

Howard E. Boke, 86, of Gettysburg, passed away Saturday, June 24, 2023, at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital, Pierre. 

Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m., Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the United Methodist Church, Gettysburg, with Pastor Jeff Adel presiding. Burial will follow in the Gettysburg Cemetery. Visitation will be one-hour prior to services at the church. 

Howard E. Boke was born October 15, 1936, to Bill and Ruth (Oaks) Boke near Lebanon, SD. He was raised on the family farm near Lebanon and was one of the first babies to be delivered by Dr. E.H. Collins. Dr. Collins also delivered his daughters, Starla and Suzanne. He was baptized into the Methodist Church. 

At 18 months of age, Howard was taken to the Aberdeen Hospital by his parents and Dr. Collins because of an abscess in his chest and was diagnosed with Polio. 

He attended rural elementary school and a half day of high school. At the age of 9, the family home was lost due to a fire. His first job was picking potatoes near Lebanon. Wages for labor were paid by the bushel. He worked for different farmers and later for Roy Cass in the iron yards. He helped cut down bridges off of White River, cut up old steam engines, and the trains round house in Pierre. He worked for Art Todd, a farmer, and Chalmer and Jane Hottman when John Deere was located where the Firehouse is now. Chalmer built his new facility on the hill and Howard served 37 years with John Deere. There were new owners, the Cronin and Burwell families, for about 10 years before Howard retired. 

Howard needed dialysis three times a week, so with winter coming, Howard and Gail moved to Parkwood Apartments in Pierre. They had a lovely apartment on the 3rd floor with a view of the river. They would walk from dialysis to the apartment, but the walks became too much for him. He bought a walker and eventually an electric jazzy and enjoyed taking daily rides to the park and river.  

Howard enjoyed sitting around visiting with the residents at Parkwood, playing cards, and putting puzzles together. He had good intentions of fishing as he hauled the fishing equipment around. He enjoyed going out to eat with groups from the apartment and trying many cafes. Above all, Howard enjoyed raising his three daughters who loved him very much, and spending time with his wife Gail whom he would have been married to for 60 years on July 21, 2023. 

Howard is survived by his wife, Gail Boke; daughters: Starla (Duane) Wager, Seneca, Suzanne (Earl) Voeller, Rapid City, and Andel (Heith) Petersen, Pierre; grandchildren: Talisa (Aaron) Buchholz, Tulare, Dylan Wager, Seneca, Slayte Petersen, Spearfish, Trae Petersen, Minneapolis, MN, Kayla Petersen, Pierre, SD and Minneapolis, MN, and Sean and Abby Voeller, Rapid City. 

Howard was preceded in death by his parents: William and Ruth Boke; brother, Gene Boke and sister, Eileen Worth. 

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Howard’s arrangements.