Mostly Clear, 56° F
(Jan. 4, 2008)
Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, at the First United Methodist Church in Powell for Richard G. Borcher, 83, who died quietly Saturday, Dec. 29, at the Alzehimer’s Unit of the Powell Valley Care Center.
He was born Dec. 19, 1924, in Sidney, Neb., son of Theodore and Dorothy (Bales) Borcher. He moved to the Powell Valley at the age of 11 with his parents, who homesteaded on the Willwood Division of the Shoshone Reclamation Project.
About the same time, the Walters family also homesteaded on the Willwood, and the families were close neighbors. Verlee Walters became his childhood sweetheart.
Richard proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1944-1946 during World War II. Richard married Verlee Walters March 9, 1946, in Billings, and their love story lasted through 56 beautiful years of marriage. She died in 2002.
The couple farmed on the North Willwood until about 1958 when Richard took a job with the Deaver-Frannie schools and moved the family to Deaver. They lived, worked and farmed there until their retirement in 1998, when they moved back to the Powell area.
Richard truly loved farming, raising registered Columbia sheep, his music and helping and watching over his children and grandchildren through their competitions and successes in life. He devoted his life to his God, his family and his work in that order.
Survivors include his children, Carol Addy of Big Water, Utah, Lynn Borcher and wife Kathy of Powell, Ken Borcher and wife Debbie of Powell, Gene Borcher and wife Rhonda of Powell and Kathy Nies and husband Jim of Gillette; his brothers, Ralph Borcher and wife Marlene of Powell, and Merlin Borcher and wife Elaine of Powell; and sister, Mildred Emery of Ralston; 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Elaine; and wife, Verlee.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Powell Valley Hospice at 777 Avenue H, Powell, WY 82435 or to Alzheimer’s research.
Cremation has taken place. Thompson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
