On Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, the world lost a great one. To know Susan Boehne was to love her. She was an amazing woman who could always find the positive in any situation.
Susan was a loving wife to her husband of 42 years, Mark. They were beyond soulmates, seeing each other through thick and thin. They enjoyed time together outdoors, traveling and watching game shows. We can all hope to have a relationship half as special as theirs.
She was an amazing mom to Emily and Joe. She helped them learn and strive to be kind people. Some of their most special memories with her are of dinner time, laughing at inside jokes and reading together at bedtime.
Susan was a special Grammy to Gabe. They spent hours together at the park, exploring the yard and building some fantastic forts. She soaked up his giggles.
She had a strong love of nature and all animals, but anyone who knew her would say her favorite animal was a pig. She loved growing up near her family farm, making friends with the farm animals and rescuing anything that moved. She delighted in watching birds and feeding the ducks.
She was an incredible teacher, teaching in eastern Oregon, Alaska and northern Idaho. Being a teacher was Susan’s passion; she loved kids and formed her own relationship with each student, aiming to meet their individual needs and brushing off preconceptions. They were her “Boehne Bunch,” and she loved her bonds with them and seeing them succeed. McDonald Elementary was her second home. She could often be found there working late into the night. She cherished the staff and students and ended her 42-year teaching career there.
She was also a special aunt, sister-in-law, daughter and sister. She loved her family and would fiercely defend them. She looked forward to big family meals on holidays and had hoped to host many more.
She was a caring friend. Her favorite thing was to go on walks with her friends: to catch up, to listen, to care.
She was strong. She had a lengthy medical journey with scoliosis when she was a teenager, survived multiple accidents involving semitrucks, and beat skin cancer. She was also emotionally tough and steadfast in her faith. And dang if she didn’t fight hard in this last battle with Parkinson’s and dementia.
We will miss her sound advice, her stories, her smile and her love. The memories of this special woman we will hold in our hearts forever. We find comfort in knowing that her pain is gone and she is with the Lord.
Susan is preceded in death by her parents, Don and Helen Messinger, and brothers, Mike and Dan Messinger. She is survived by her husband, Mark Boehne; children Emily Valencia (husband Marc) and Joe Boehne; and grandson Gabe Valencia.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Shriners Hospital or your local animal shelter.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton, Mont., with burial to follow at the Corvallis Cemetery. The service may be livestreamed and condolences may be left at dalyleachchapel.com.
