Don Boggs, 91, a lifetime Buffalo resident, passed away quietly at the Johnson County Health Care Center in Buffalo, surrounded by his family. Private family interment will be held at a later time.
Donald Franklin Boggs was born in Buffalo, Wyoming on February 9, 1925 to Earl Paul Boggs and Rowena Fullerton Boggs. In his early years his family lived in Gardena, California and he spent most of his life in Buffalo. Don graduated in 1943 from Johnson County High School. He spent the next three years in the anti-aircraft division of the Army as a forward observer and saw foreign service in New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan during WWII.
After the war, he attended the University of Wyoming and then became a partner with his father in the family dry cleaning business. In 1947, he married Charlotte Ruth McHenry in the Congregational Church in Buffalo. They purchased and moved into their first home, a farm on the SW edge of Buffalo. While serving in the Army Reserve, Don was called back into service in 1950 where he served in a truck company in Korea until 1951. Upon his return, Don continued his partnership in Boggs Cleaners until two years after his father’s death in 1956. At that time, he closed the business and started Boggs Construction. His son Dennis joined him after attending college. Don semi-retired in 1994 and lived in Buffalo until his death.
Don enjoyed building things and built most anything he put his mind to including numerous homes and apartments around Buffalo, two airplanes and two boats. Along with his construction business, he worked as a foreman for Eagle Construction on the construction of the Lake DeSmet diversion tunnel, built a movie set for the filming of the movie “Chance” south of town, worked as foreman with MGM on the movie “Endangered Species,” and rebuilt the Cowboy Carousel, ferris wheel and miniature golf course.
An active part the Buffalo community, Don was a member of the American Legion, Elks Lodge, National Rifleman’s Association, Flying Farmers, AOPA and served as fire chief of the Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department.
Don lived a full life enjoying hunting, fishing, water skiing, snow skiing, golfing, boating, flying, singing and performing in holiday concerts and musicals produced by the Buffalo Music Club.
He is survived by his wife Charlotte Boggs of Buffalo; one son Dennis Boggs and wife Karen of Buffalo; one daughter Lloy Baumeister and partner Michael Dwyer of Laguna, California; five grandsons, Shane Gammon, Christopher Boggs and Brandon and Derek Baumeister; one granddaughter, Megan Boggs; and two great grandsons Preston and Kellen Gammon.
Donations in Mr. Boggs’ memory may be made to the St. Francis Animal Shelter in care of the Harness Funeral Home at 351 N. Adams in Buffalo. Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com
