Obituary: Boyd Porch

Funeral Services

Funeral services will take place on Friday, September 18, 2020 at 10:00 AM (Mountain).

New Kadoka Gymnasium
Kadoka, South Dakota

Visitation

A visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service at the new Kadoka Gymnasium.

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In memory of

Boyd Porch

of Rapid City formerly of Kadoka, South Dakota, died on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at the Monument Health Hospice House in Rapid City at the age of 80

Dr. Boyd L. Porch went to be with the Lord on September 15, 2020. He was born to Cyrus and Dorothy (Hockenbary) Porch on October 23, 1939 at Pierre, South Dakota. He would tell you that growing up on the family ranch southwest of Wanblee, South Dakota with these parents and his brothers: Stanley, Ralph, Roger, and sister Carol, not to mention the great Bear Creek neighbors, was a great start to life.

His education began with his Aunt Ruth Porch homeschooling him along with his siblings and cousins, followed by the country school close to home, Kadoka Grade School, and then Kadoka High School from which he graduated in 1957. He attended South Dakota State University and graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1964.

Boyd married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Batie, on July 3, 1960. Their first home was in Ames, Iowa from 1960-1964 while he attended ISU. During this time, their first child, Tamara Lynne, was born. In 1964, the family moved to Murdo, South Dakota, where Boyd established a veterinary practice and a second daughter, Peggy Anne, arrived. In 1967 a son, Joel Boyd, completed the family. These three brought great joy as their parents tried to keep up with their sports, music and the whole privilege of getting them “launched”.

In 1969, Boyd moved his family to Kadoka and felt privileged to continue working with the wonderful ranch families of the area until his retirement from Veterinary Practice in 2013. He was a kind, friendly, humble man, and a good doctor. During this time, he also served as a Veterinary Medical Officer for the USDA for five years and inspected the Martin Livestock Auction for a number of years.

Boyd was active in the communities that he lived and worked in. He served on the School Board and the Hospital Board while in Murdo. In Kadoka, he served on the City Council, helped to organize the Buffalo Stampede, and was a member and elder in the Kadoka Presbyterian Church. Boyd was an officer in the South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association and served as president in 1973. Boyd was a lifetime member of the Western South Dakota Buckaroos.

Boyd was talented in so many ways. He was an excellent pilot and flew to many ranch locations in his practice, and made some wonderful flying trips with his wife to visit friends and family. At Christmas, 1995, he was given tuition for the River of No Return Flying School in Idaho which proved to be a wonderful adventure. (He returned). A real highlight for Boyd and Pat was a camping flight into the Idaho wilderness in 1995. In 2012, Boyd received the FAA Master Pilot Award for “50 Years of Dedicated Service in Aviation Safety”. Flying was something he loved sharing with his son, Joel, and his brother, Stanley.

He had a great love for playing the guitar and banjo with his family and his friends, Carl and John. Several family members have learned to play well and this proved to be about the most favorite thing to do with family when they were home. Boyd could build and invent many things with his hands. He designed and built a hydraulic squeeze chute for the purpose of facilitating the working of cattle herds. This design was later sold on the commercial market. Most special of the things he “built” with his hands was the little red 1933 Ford pickup restored with love and patience, a family treasure.

Boyd also loved pheasant and grouse hunting with his family and friends. (He also liked buying guns.) In 1975, Boyd and Pat purchased a farm and got the whole family involved. Tamara drove a tractor, Peggy catered combining meals to the field, and Joel had all of his summers planned for him after he was first initiated at age 11.

The 1990’s exploded with the arrival of nine grandchildren: Shelby, Stacia, Katie, and Rachel Schoon; Keagan, Sawyer, and Sienna Clement; Allie (Andrew) Truitt and Cade Porch. The grandchild count was rounded out to ten when Ryan Porch arrived in 2004. He always knew that these ten were REAL treasures.

Most important: Sometime in the late 1940’s he was a camper at Victory Pines Bible Camp. It was there that he heard the Good News and Believed.

Boyd and Pat moved to Rapid City in 2016. In January of 2019, Boyd became a resident of the Peaceful Pines Memory Care Unit where he was beautifully cared for and made some very special friends. He was there until September 3rd when he completed his journey at the Monument Health Hospital and Hospice House in Rapid City, again, cared for by some exceptional care givers. The respect and kindness of these professionals will always be a blessing to this family.

Boyd is survived by his wife of 60 years, Pat; his daughters: Tamara (Joe) Clement of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Peggy Schoon of Sioux Falls, and Joel (Lisa) Porch of Rapid City; his ten grandchildren; his brothers, Stanley (Shirley), Ralph (Diana), and Roger (Lois). Also surviving include a multitude of in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Carol Jeffords; his brother-in-law-friend, Steve Jeffords; and his niece, Kristi Thompson.

Condolences will reach the family at 1100 Duffer Drive, Rapid City, SD 57702.

A visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service at the new Kadoka Gymnasium.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 18, at the new Kadoka Gymnasium in Kadoka.

Interment will follow at the Kadoka Cemetery.

Open the Memorial Folder

FUNERAL SERVICE
Friday, September 18, 2020 - 10:00 a.m.
New Kadoka Gymnasium
Kadoka, South Dakota

OFFICIATING
John Kaiser

INTERMENT
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota

Sign the guestbook

I took care of Boyd the last few years he was living at home. He was such a extraordinary man that I had the pleasure of caring for and spending time with. He had such an amazing family. He had an incredible wife who loved and cared for him deeply, my heart breaks for her and her grandchildren's loss. God bless him sweet, humble, soul! ~ Chelse Manwell Rapid City, SD (12/18/2020)
Pat, Tammy, Peggy, Joel: I have one memories from when I was visiting. Uncle Boyd had a great library of books I was interested in. There was another time, maybe the same visit, where I went to the vet office. He was treating a cow that had cut its hind leg on barbed wire. He had a machine to hold the cow and tip it sideways a bit to make the job easier. It was a cool memory for a city kid. Love and peace to your families. ~ Brad Knowlton (nephew) Dallas, Texas (9/20/2020)
I don't remember Boyd very well when I grew up in Kadoka. However, my father, Harvey Erickson, was always impressed by Boyd. In fact, he so admired him, Harvey named my brother after him - Boyd Harvey Erickson. To the Porch family, please accept our condolences. Jerome & Carol Erickson. ~ Jerome Erickson Spearfish (9/18/2020)
Dear Porch Family. We send our heartfelt sympathy at this sad time.

He will be missed.
Skip enjoyed all the Porch men at Buckaroos Happy Trails Boyd~~~~~ ~ Skip and Mary Floyd Kennebec, South Dakota (9/18/2020)
Joel, so sorry to hear of your dad's passing. He was a great person and will be dearly missed. I first met him when I was very young when I helped brand calves in the spring for the Porch's at Cy place. So I have known him for many years. I was even privilege to go on a few plane rides with him. One time I went with him is when Stanley and Dad drove a bunch of heifers to Philip so they could be sold. So I took pictures of the trail drive. I still have the pictures that I took of the drive which I share with Stanley and Dad. Boyd rest in peace. ~ Casey D Weaver Wall, SD (9/18/2020)
Pat and family, Chris and I send our deepest sympathy for your loss. Boyd was a super guy and super vet with a heart of gold. You all will be in our thoughts and prayers. ~ Chris and Diana Elwood Volborg, MT (9/17/2020)
Pat, my sympathy and condolences to your family . Boyd was a great person. I will never forget working for him at the vet office. ~ Patty Morris (Seidler) Menifee, CA (9/17/2020)
Pat and family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Boyd was such a great man. He will be missed. ~ David and Mary Jones Martin,SD (9/17/2020)
Pat and family. I'm so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you. Your in my thoughts and prayers ~ Jackie Weaver Brothers Fort White Fl (9/17/2020)
Pat and family, I am sorry for your loss. ~ Mary (Frink) Kehrer Port Charlotte , FL (9/16/2020)
So sorry for you loss Boyd was a great fella heart of pure gold both him and Pat both. Condolences and prayers for strength ~ Hayley Brunsch Pine Ridge SD (9/16/2020)
Irvine, CA 92618 ~ June Covington 104 Ridge Valley #132 (9/16/2020)
Porch Families,
I am deeply sadden to read of Boyd's passing. He was a great man. He will be missed by all who have ever had the chance of meeting him. May God keep you all surrounded in his loving embrace as you go through these trying times. May Boyd Rest in Peace and be greeted by the friends and family that has passed before him. ~ Ellie Bettelyoun Martin, SD (9/16/2020)
Roger, Lois & Family, So sorry for your loss. Prayers to the family. ~ Ralph & Cathy Fiedler Sturgis, SD (9/16/2020)
Condolences. You're in our thoughts and prayers. ~ Mae Whirlwind Horse & Family Interior, SD (9/16/2020)
My sincerest sympathies to the entire Porch family. Although you are thankful he is at peace, that doesn't lessen the pain you have in your heart for the loss of someone you loved so dearly. May your memories give you all the peace he would want you to feel in the days & weeks ahead. ~ Cindy Nuzum Wall, SD (9/16/2020)
Pat and family, So sorry to hear of Dr. Boyd's passing. He was a help and encouragement to me, early in my career, and a man I deeply respected. He will be missed.
Bill Hines DVM Martin, S.D. ~ Bill Hines DVM Martin, S.D. (9/16/2020)
Pat & family: In the beauty of memories left behind, in the lives touched and changed, in the gifts of wisdom shared....those we love live on, always. Boyd will be missed by all. So sorry for your loss. ~ Don & Dee Halverson Rapid City (9/16/2020)
Pat and family, so very sorry for Boyd's passing but know that the party that awaited him was beyond our belief! May you all find comfort in the many memories you've made with each other over the years. Our prayers will be lifted for you all in the days ahead. Hugs! ~ Lawrence & Tera Hockenbary New Underwood, SD (9/16/2020)
So sorry to hear of Boyd's passing - my condolences to the family- such a nice man ~ Roxanne Hauk Caputa, SD (9/16/2020)
Dear Family-
Boyd was such a teacher in so many aspects of life! I have always cherished my time working with him and learning the Vet Tech world. Although, I didn't end up practicing in that field, I took the things I learned about life and working hard and have applied them to my jobs.
So many fond memories of following him and Carol around. He used to love those little butterfinger ball candies.
My heart hurts for you all as you grieve your loss. I am just sure that Heaven was a happy place this morning as he was singing and playing for them when he got there!
Big hugs and lots of prayers to all of you.
May God bless and hold you all tight.
David, Michelle, Kelcey, Katie and Lukas Butler ~ Michelle Butler Philip, SD (9/15/2020)
Sending our deepest sympathy to your entire family. Boyd was a good man! ~ Judy Goldhammer Wall SD (9/15/2020)