Laura Boe, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on the morning of Nov. 8. Boe was born Dec. 11, 1933, in her family home in Fairland, Oklahoma, to Kate Laurel and Robert E. Roberts. She was the youngest of 9 children.
Laura lived a life of purpose. She was sharp-witted, kind, generous and a good friend. She made small moments count and always chose others over herself. She was a tell-it-like-it-is kind of woman who never hid from the truth. We loved her direction, her passion and her example of choosing love first. She will be dearly missed.
In her early life she excelled in athletics, including basketball and volleyball. After graduating high school she attended Business School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She traveled to Great Falls, Montana, and worked in Buttrey’s Department Store as a bookkeeper. She met the great love of her life, Donovan Boe, through a mutual friend at a USO dance. They were married January 12, 1954, at East Base Wedding Chapel in Great Falls, Montana.
Laura traveled to England to be with Don while he was stationed at Molesworth AFB near Kettering, where their first daughter, Pam, was born. After 18 months in England, the family settled in Cut Bank, Montana, where Laura raised her family, worked as a bank teller, and babysat many of the neighborhood kids. She and Don sponsored survivors of a Nazi concentration camp for citizenship after WWII. In 1970 the family relocated to LaBarge, Wyoming, where she was employed by Johnson Oil Company as a bookkeeper for 18 years.
Laura was happiest when her children were all under one roof, home safe, and well-fed. She was the family worrier; she fretted over missed curfews like no other character in history — just ask her daughter Darlene! Her family and many in the community enjoyed her cooking and hospitality. The home was always open to others and a friend couldn’t leave without a hot cup of coffee. As a family historian, she took thousands of pictures, videos, 8 mm film, and she kept a family journal to prove she was right in any argument.
She proudly served as town judge in LaBarge, Wyoming, in the 1970s, a position that was congruent with her character and beliefs in fairness and justice. For 25 years she served as director, secretary-treasurer, and volunteer for the LaBarge senior center. The Senior Center was her passion and she spent countless hours ensuring events and functions went off without a hitch; no detail was too small.
In 1992 she was awarded the Citizenship Award by the Town of LaBarge and recognized by Senator Craig Thomas. She was awarded the 1991 Governor’s Volunteer Action Award by Governor Mike Sullivan.
Along with her time at the Senior Center she was recognized for many hours she spent helping individuals and families within the community of LaBarge.
She drove many people to necessary medical appointments, family visits and even did grocery shopping for those in need.
Laura assumed many other responsibilities at the senior center without hesitation. She lived a life of gratitude, and any small action sent her way was met with a card of thanks.
She was a community historian. Laura rarely left the house without a camera and submitted her photos to local papers, friends, family — honestly, she was an expert at sharing pictures before Facebook existed. If you wanted to know about a local birth or death, she kept meticulous records of the town’s history. She was a resource for the community.
Laura is survived by Donovan Boe, her husband of 63 years; her daughters, Pamela Doreen (Eric Nicholaus), Janice Darlene (Mark Haddock) and “3rd daughter” Kathy Burgin Perine (Jim); her sons Edward Glenn and Richard Duanel; grandchildren Nathan (Solida), Shannon, Aaron, Kelsey, Jonathan, Connor, and Kiley; great-grandchildren Jack, Charlize and ChanLina; her siblings, Gene Roberts and Bonnie Troutt; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Laura was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Enoch, Zenobia, Dorcas, Wayne, Olive, and Harry.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LaBarge Senior Center, LaBarge, WY, 83123.
A family viewing was held at Ball Family Chapel in Kemmerer on Sunday, Nov. 12. Internment of ashes will be scheduled for the spring of 2018 at the Viola Cemetery.
