Dr. Ben Boice

Dr. Benjamin Russell Boice passed away at home in Idaho Falls, Idaho on February 24 ,2015 . He was born at home in Phoenix, Arizona, November 5, 1921. He died after a life fully lived for 93 years. Ben grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated from Phoenix Union High School as salutatorian in a class of 900. He went to California for pre-med and medical school because Arizona didn't have a medical school at that time. Ben served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 – 1948, during which time he finished medical school and then served as a medical officer at Naval hospitals and aboard ship, and had a harrowing experience on a submarine as a volunteer Navy medical observer. The Boice family arrived in Sonora, California, in 1951 when Ben opened his medical practice of General Medicine & Surgery. At that time a family physician like Ben also performed surgery and delivered babies. No doubt there are some of those babies still living in Tuolumne County. In 1953 Doctors Paul and Helen Anspach joined Ben in his medical practice. In 1951 the hospitals in Tuolumne County were old and not modernized, so Ben and the Anspachs built the first modern hospital in Tuolumne County, Sonora Community Hospital, that opened its doors to patients July 7, 1957. The Boices and the Anspachs donated the hospital to the Central California Conference of Seventh Day Adventists in 1961, free of debt, and with money in the bank. They had previously offered the hospital to Tuolumne County but the offer wasn't accepted. Ben and Paul Anspach were the physicians who were flown in to tend to emergencies on site while the Cherry Valley Dam was being constructed. More than once Ben rode horseback up in the high country with a group rescuing someone with a medical emergency. He also made house calls and sometimes took his young son, Chuck, with him. Ben retired from his medical practice in 1979, and retired as President of Sonora Community Hospital in 1980. Ben and Pat lived in Anguilla, British West Indies, where they were married, for five years before moving to Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1990 to be near family. Ben lived a full and interesting life and accomplished many things. His life touched others' lives in so many ways and he will be missed by countless people. His life was an example of why his generation has been called "The Greatest Generation." Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Hallie Boice, sisters, Olive Renck and Hallie Richardson, and a nephew Dr. Bob Renck. Ben is survived by his wife Patricia Boice of Idaho Falls; three children from a previous marriage, Jeanette Boice Emery and her husband Dr. Rick Emery of Sonora, California, Deanne Boice Hanscom of Park City, Utah, and Dr. Charles Boice and his wife Susan of Towson, Maryland. Ben is also survived by two stepchildren, Dr. Randy Harrison and his wife Gail who are currently travelers, Sheri Harrison Weber and her husband Dr. Don Weber of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Ben is also survived by three grandsons, Dr. Ben Emery and his wife Nicole and their son Jett of Casper, Wyoming, Philip Emery and his wife Kristy of San Diego, California, and Nick Hanscom and his partner Christina Craddock of Park City, Utah. Ben is also survived by step grandchildren, Carly Harrison of Portland, Oregon, Kelsey Harrison of Newcastle, Washington, Devon Reed of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, James Weber at University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Olivia Weber at University of California, Irvine. Also surviving are nieces and a nephew, Betty Hart of Rimrock, Arizona, Don Richardson and his wife Sheila of Prescott, Arizona, Elizabeth Rivers and her partner Mimi Mitchell of Chico, California, and "honorary niece" Alberta Amos of Rimrock, Arizona, as well as numerous great nieces and nephews. At Ben's request there will be no funeral. There will be a private celebration of his life at a later date.

Celebration of Life at a later date.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015 Notes: At Ben's request there will be no funeral. There will be a private celebration of his life at a later date.