Roger "Ole" Boe

On April 2nd, 1948, in the town of Fergus Falls in rural Minnesota, Grace (Raatz) Boe, age 42, and Ervin Boe, age 47, welcomed their fourth child into the world. His mother chose the strong name of Roger Harold for their beloved son. His father liked the idea of a certain Scandinavian name for his son and soon declared, “I’m gonna call him Ole.” 

Raised in Elbow Lake, Minnesota, Roger “Ole” Boe’s childhood was one of being the adored baby brother of his oldest sibling James “Jim” and his big sisters Dorothea “Dottie” and Geraldine “Geri”. Though not especially poor, he and his siblings grew up without such luxuries as indoor plumbing. As strong Norwegians, you could make do with what you have.

As a 10-year-old boy, he was taken on a trip to Indiana because his brother Jim had married a girl from Walton, Indiana whom he had met while on leave from the Navy. There Ole met a little girl named Patty who thought he was cute.

At just 16 years of age, he suffered the sudden loss of his father due to a stroke. Roger and his mother pushed forward together, even deciding it was time to get some helpful upgrades for the home like indoor plumbing.

At age 20, Roger H. Boe enlisted in the United States Army to serve his country. He was placed in the 1st Infantry Division known as the legendary Big Red One where the motto “Duty First” was fitting. He experienced heavy combat in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement in Battle and the Purple Heart. After one ambush by tough enemy forces, he realized the bullet of an enemy’s rifle had passed through his pant leg, gone through his wallet, and into the small New Testament Bible he carried in his hip pocket, stopping short of entering his leg and missing his loaded magazine clip.

After returning home, he reunited with his brother Jim in Indiana, went to see that girl named Patty, and married the love of his life, Patricia (Bruner) Boe. He was grateful for being welcomed into the Bruner and Turner families and the community where he and Patty made their home in a little house on a hill, surrounded by nature. He even found a bit of a second father in his father-in-law Lowell Bruner.

First, he and Patty were overjoyed to have a daughter, then a son. To his children, he was kind, encouraging, and patient beyond all reason. Ole lived his days as a grateful man, thankful for what he had.

He kept up with his family in Minnesota and felt great joy in seeing his sisters and in knowing his nieces and nephews.

Proud to be a Farmer, and a worker at Wilson Foods for many years, he shared with a doctor recently that the best work he ever had was being the custodian at the local elementary school because he got to see the smiles on the kids each day as they would tell him their stories. Both the children and the staff at Thompson Elementary loved Mr. Boe.

Ole Boe was also an Entertainer. He was a skilled guitarist with a voice that could cover a range of songs. He played because of the joy in music, and when asked or invited, he would sing and play for others so they could feel that joy as well. From a chair in the family living room to the church or nursing home to a paid gig that “gave him a little walkin’ around money,” his voice and his joy were the same.

People who knew him could count on having a friendly face in their lives—someone who wished the best for them.

In recent years his days included uncertainties and discomforts from a rare bone marrow blood cancer, yet Ole Boe remained the same strong and gentle spirit who took things as they came and was grateful for all the good in his life.

On September 20th, 2024, Roger “Ole” Boe left this world after 76 years and 171 days of bringing lightness and joy to the lives of others. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by the love of his family—his deepest joy and his answer to what matters most. He departed peacefully.

Not one to ever preach to anyone or even to quote scripture, he had remarked in his usual light-hearted way on September 19th, with his son Aaron in the room and whatever nurse or doctor might want to hear him, “Well, it’s like the Apostle Paul said to the Corinthians, ‘My work here is done.’”

Above all, he loved that he married that childhood sweetheart and was especially grateful for his two kids, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His legacy will live on through his devoted wife of 54 years, Patricia Boe, daughter Lisa (Mark) Helm, grandchildren Clayton Seyfried, Alexis Seyfried, and Tate Helm, son Aaron (Lauren) Boe, grandson Kegan (Kimberly) Boe, great-grandchildren Kallahan and Kerrigan Boe, and grandchildren Natalie, Jack, Maggie, and James Ole Boe. In addition, Ole and Pat Boe count three more children as their own, Fredrick Tongi, Christine Kalia, and Lillian Mwangi of Nairobi, Kenya. His mother, father, and two sisters passed on before him. Ole’s brother James “Jim” Boe lives in Noblesville, Indiana, and his many nieces and nephews in Minnesota and throughout the country carry memories and love for their Uncle Ole.

Services will be held this weekend at the Anoka Community Church in Anoka, Indiana, with visitation on Friday, September 27th from 4:00-7:00 pm and Saturday, September 28th in the morning from 9:30-12:00 with the service following to honor and celebrate the life of Roger “Ole” Boe. Please feel free to dress in what makes you feel comfortable.

A private family burial will be held after the service at the family plot of the Walton I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Instead of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Roger Boe to the Anoka Community Church, 4890 E County Road 300 S Logansport, IN 46947 or the Roudebush VA Hospital 1481 West 10th St., Indianapolis, IN 46202-2884.