Bernard A. Boos, Jr.

Bernard A. Boos, Jr., age 73 of Big Stone City, SD, passed away on November 30, 2021.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank. Father Gary DeRouchey will celebrate the Mass. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a prayer vigil at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday, one hour prior to the Mass. Burial will be at St. Gabriel Cemetery in Fulda, MN, at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 11.

Bernard Anthony Boos, Jr. was born on February 29, 1948, in Sioux Falls, SD. He was the son of Bernard “Barney” Anthony Boos, Sr. and Madeline Veronica Bolger Boos. Bernard grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from O’Gorman High School. He served in the United States Marine Corp, enlisting in 1966 and was honorably discharged from active duty in 1976. During his service, Bernard served in Vietnam as a field radio operator and an intelligence specialist. He was awarded a Purple Heart, as well as other medals and battle ribbons. He continued to serve in the Minnesota National Guard until 1991.

Bernard lived in the Minneapolis/Burnsville, MN, area and worked for the United States Postal Service until his retirement in 2006. He spent his retirement years in his lake cabin on Manhattan Island (Big Stone Lake) until his death.

Bernard enjoyed fishing and living on the island. He was the only person to live on the island year-round. He could be quite stubborn, but would also bend over backwards to help someone in need. He served as a mentor for his nephew, David, during his Eagle Scout project.

Bernard Boos, Jr. is survived by his child, Tony Dean Boos of Minneapolis, MN; siblings: Barbara Thomassen of Brookings, SD; George (Gloria) Boos of Milbank, SD; Kathleen (Steven) Satterlee of Whitewood, SD; Paul (Hajimie) Boos of New York, NY; and Joan (Douglas) Schueller of Pierre, SD. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Barney and Madeline; and one brother, John Michael Boos.

**This tribute was written by Phil Larsen

Hello Lakota Island Association Members

It is with a heavy heart that I look back on my time knowing Tony Boos.  I’ve known Tony twenty-three years.  In that time, he has always been a very friendly curmudgeon.  He at times appears gruff but he always had the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met.  I have heard countless folks come to his cabin and ask to borrow one thing or another.  In those 23 years I never once heard Tony ask a second question.  The answer was always “sure” and sometimes a “perspiration negative!” 

Tony or Bernard, to his family, was a proud Marine who served multiple terms as a Radio Operator in the Vietnam war.  He received a Purple Heart and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Purple Heart.  For valor in combat.  When he returned from Vietnam, he was met with protesters shouting at him.  He was quoted in the Newspaper saying, “the protesters have every right to protest, I just don’t agree with them”.

I don’t see my friend Tony wanting a lot of flowers at his service.  So, an idea has been presented to me by a member to instead of all of us flooding the service with flowers, let’s all plant fruit trees on the Island and create a Tony Boos orchard where one day people can walk by and pick a piece of fruit.  Tony loved improving the Island (often without any input from anyone else) So I think he would be very pleased with a memorial like this.  I would like to plant the trees the first weekend in April.  We will work out the details as to exact location.

I hope you will join me in honoring the life of Bernard “Tony” Boos by bring a fruit tree to this event next April.

If you can’t attend in April and still want to participate, please send me a note and we can work it out.

I’m sure you all will miss Tony as much as I do.  And, Semper Fi Tony!

Phil Larsen