No headline

John P. Bushfield

John P. Bushfield passed away peacefully at Mountain View Manor in Eureka, Mont., on Sept. 25, 2018. John will be missed and will always be in our thoughts. His family is comforted knowing that after a full and well-lived life, he is now at peace and with the love of his life.

John was born March 19, 1924, in Canonsburg, Pa., to Paul A. Bushfield and Gladys Lowmiller-Bushfield. As a young boy, the family moved to Boise, Idaho, where John attended school and discovered his passion for skiing and the outdoors.

John served his country in World War II as a proud member of the U.S. Army’s original 10th Mountain Division, or “Ski Troops.” He was assigned to the 2nd Headquarters Company, 86th Infantry Regiment. The 10th Mountain saw combat for only four months but had one of the war’s highest casualty rates. The 10th Mountain’s hard-fought victory at the Battle of Riva Ridge and Mount Belvedere helped turn the tide by driving the Germans out of Italy and breaking the German Gothic Line. John was wounded in battle and returned to the states, where he spent many months in Army hospitals on the West Coast.

After his release from the hospital, he returned to Boise and attended Boise Jr. College, as it was called in those days. As a member of the college ski team, he took home many trophies, an amazing feat considering he was told that he may never be able to use a leg that he nearly lost to a mortar round in the Battle on Mount Belvedere!

At Boise Jr. College, he met his true love, Darlene Self. They were married on Sept. 4, 1949. He then attended Utah State, where he received his bachelor of science degree in forestry. With a love for the forest and concern for its management, he became a forester with the U.S. Forest Service. During his career John, Darlene and family lived in several small towns across Montana — Libby, Troy, Eureka and Noxon — and in Idaho — Orofino and Coeur d’Alene.

Always close was a nearby ski hill where he could share his life-long passion for skiing with his children, their friends and others in the community. He was a willing teacher and chauffeur to anyone who had the desire to learn to ski. He skied late into his life, and to his pleasure was able to ski with all his grandchildren and a few of his great-grandchildren. After 32 years with the U.S. Forest Service, he retired and settled in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He recently had returned to Eureka to be closer to loved ones.

John and Darlene had many happy years together before she passed away on Feb. 23, 1998. They were blessed with six children: Pam (Greg) Osler, Mike (Marti) Bushfield, Kit (Mike) Holder, Terrence Bushfield, John W. Bushfield and Tim (Kathy) Bushfield. He was also blessed with 12 grandchildren: Lisa (Don) Stacy, Shannon (Ryan) Malmin, Brett (Cotti) Bushfield, Sarah Bushfield, Jim (Jenny) Bushfield, Jennifer (Chip) Spall, Bart Holder, April Holder, Gina (Kyle) McManus, Andrew Bushfield, Kaitlyn Bushfield and Hayden Bushfield. He also has 18 great-grandchildren: Bryce (Jade) Stacy, Karlee (Kyler) Commers, Walker Malmin, Kaysie Malmin, Tylar Bushfield, Brock Bushfield, Brenner Bushfield, Hannah Greene, Grayce Greene, Shay Bushfield, Addison Bushfield, Jake Bushfield, Madison (Colyer) Dermody, Sidni Holder and Jonathan Spall; and one great-great-granddaughter, Aspen Stacy. He also had one nephew, Kenneth Self of Lake Oswego, Ore.

John was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Polly; brother, William; mother-in-law, Elsie Self; his beloved wife, Darlene; son, John W. Bushfield; son-in-law, Mike Holder and grandson, Casey Osler.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, at Faith Presbyterian Church, 9485 N. Maple St., Hayden, ID 83835. Please bring a memory to share after the service if you’d like. There will also be a luncheon following the service.

The family would like to thank the staff at Mountain View Manor in Eureka for the wonderful care they gave to Dad.