Josephine 'Josie' Boetcher, 77
Josephine "Josie" Boetcher, 77, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006, at Heritage Place in Kalispell.
She was born May 23, 1929, in Troy, to Joseph and Jenny (Sabitino) Solimando. She was raised with her two brothers, Tony and Matthew, on her parents' 2-acre strawberry farm. Their strawberries were known for their exceptional taste and size. Josie had many fond memories of playing in the fields and helping her parents harvest their crop for sale.
Being raised with two boys did not stop Josie from engaging in the usual activities of a little girl. One of her favorite pastimes was playing with her dolls. She also remembers riding to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and enjoying trips to the grocery store in Troy and Libby.
When she was 20 years old, Josie met Harold Boetcher in downtown Kalispell. Harold had served in the Army during World War II and was a POW in the Bataan death march. They were married three weeks later by the Kalispell justice of the peace. Josie and Harold's marriage lasted until his death 56 years later. During that time they had a son, Mike, and a daughter, Linda.
Josie reveled in her role as a homemaker. She loved shopping and at one time won a couch from Bitney's furniture store. Watching Lawrence Welk, Larry King, figure skating, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy were some of her favorite pastimes. She also liked listening to big-band music. Moonlight Serenade was her favorite song. Josie's two grandsons and two great-grandsons were her greatest pride.
Josephine was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Anthony Solimando; and her husband, Harold Boetcher.
She is survived by her son, Mike Boetcher, of Kalispell; daughter, Linda Taylor and husband, William, of Kalispell; grandson, Shawn Farnum and wife, Dezaray, of Kalispell; grandson, Josh Taylor, and girlfriend, Amanda Parsons, of Yuma, Ariz.; great-grandsons and great-granddaughter, Trevor Stroh and Ethan Farnum and Zoe Farnum, a baby on the way, all of Kalispell; sister-in-law, Kay Gordon of Spokane; nephew, Gayle Herman of Salem, Ore.; nephews, Malcom Gordon and wife, Joan, of New Castle, Wash., and their daughter, Lauren, and Tim Herman and wife, Marilyn, and their children of Oak Harbor, Wash.; niece, Karren Nilsen, of Liberty Lake, Wash., and son, Kirk.
Josie will be greatly missed by her entire family. Anyone wanting to bring a small trinket to display at the memorial that reminds you of Josie, please do so.
Memorial services for Josephine Boetcher will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, in the Johnson Mortuary Chapel with Pastor John Weaver officiating. There will be no visitation. Burial will be at a later date.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Josephine's family.