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Darrell R. Bowersox, 84

Darrell R. Bowersox was born May 10, 1933, to Art and Blanche Bowersox, in Spokane, Wash., at St. Luke’s Hospital. He passed peacefully on April 30, 2018, at North Idaho Hospice House, surrounded by family. Darrel is survived by his wife, Judy, and a wonderful, large extended family.

Darrell was a very proud Marine who joined the ranks at just 17 years old, and served in Korea from 1951 to 1959. Semper Fi. He returned to Spokane after his service, where he met and married the love of his life, Judy (Gumm) in 1961.

In 1962, the newlyweds packed up and drove the dirt “highway” to the great unknown — ALASKA. After thriving in Anchorage as a banker and logistics specialist, Darrell decided to get the most out of the wilderness and took a job on the North Slope as a logistics manager. Apparently, Anchorage and the North Slope did not provide enough excitement for him, so the couple bought a chunk of homestead land near the little town of Talkeetna. They built a small cabin (and outhouse) there for weekend getaways, which provided the land to hunt and fish, which Darrell loved. In 1979, these “pioneers” moved to Talkeetna permanently. They built a beautiful log home from the ground up and started Denali Way/Sunshine Auto Parts. While in Talkeetna, Darrell was very active in the community. Many hours were spent at the VFW Post 3836 with friends, where he served as the quartermaster for several years.

After retiring in 2009, Darrell and Judy moved to Post Falls, Idaho, and enjoyed traveling around the Northwest, visiting family and making new friends. Darrell and Judy also enjoyed their weekly rituals: Monday was “young at heart day” at the Cd’A Casino; Wednesday, a trip to Falls Club for a couple of manhattans; Friday night was a trip to a favorite mexican restaurant.

Darrell loved to hunt and is no doubt tracking that big moose with his buddies; taking in the fresh air, wilderness and maybe a shot of Crown Royal.

The family would like to thank North Idaho Hospice for their wonderful care. In lieu of flowers, North Idaho Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene or Honor Flight were two charities that meant a great deal to Darrell and his family.