Floyd Bernard Reishus passed away December 26, 2018. He was born in Marshall, MN to Sondre William Reishus and Inez Mary Underhill on December 18, 1930 and grew up in Cottonwood, MN to a farm family. He and his twin brother, Lloyd, were the 8th and 9th of 11 children.
His father passed away when he was six years old. Floyd graduated from Washington High School, Fergus Falls, MN in 1949. From 1949 to 1953 Floyd served in the US Marines and received the Korean Service Medal 1950-1952,… Read More » United Nations Service Metal and Good Conduct Medal.
After graduating from the University of Washington in 1957, Floyd worked for a year and a half for Boeing Airplane Company in Seattle. He then decided to return to college to obtain his teaching certificate. After graduating from the University of Montana in 1960, Floyd was hired as a high school teacher at Ben Eielson High School on Eielson Air Force Base outside of Fairbanks, AK.
He taught there for 21 years and retired in 1981. While teaching at Eielson, he was also their track and cross-country coach from 1975-1981. After retiring, he worked for Beaver Sports in Fairbanks, AK for 10 years.
While at Beaver Sports, he coached track at West Valley High School for six years. He was an assistant cross-country ski coach at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, where he became well-known for his expertise in waxing skis. He was also an assistant ski coach for US Senior Nationals, where teams competed in Colorado, Michigan, New York, Alaska, New Hampshire and Minnesota.
In addition, he served as a ski coach for the NSCA, NCAA, Junior Nationals, World Cup and the US Olympic Cross-Country team during the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France. He also was the waxing coach for Slovenia during the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. After moving to Bozeman in 1996, he volunteered with the Bridger Ski Foundation.
Floyd joined the BSF coaching staff for more than 20 US Nationals and Junior Nationals championships where many National champions’ titles were earned. Floyd was also part of the Intermountain Division coaching staff for many years. He was a mentor for many coaches in BSF and the IMD, as well as hundreds of skiers.
Floyd was always involved in coaching track, cross country skiing or volunteering to coach running groups and physical education for adults. He enjoyed reloading ammo, hunting, cross-country skiing, rock and ice climbing. Floyd’s friends, family, and countless cross-country skiers often referred to him as “THE wax guru”.
He was famous for his “special wax”. Floyd was preceded in death by his parents, all siblings and his son, Karl William Reishus. He is survived by his wife Linda Reishus; his children Karen (Bob) Bates of Midland, TX; Karol (Mike) Pomplin of Soldotna, AK; Sue Reishus-O’Brien (Sean O’Brien) of Juneau, AK; Janis Smoke (Brian Newman) of Bozeman, MT; David Mortensen (Wendi Bates) of Anchorage, AK; Dan (Shelli) Mortensen of Collegeville, PA; Barry (Lisa) Mortensen of Fairbanks, AK; 16 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A Visitation will be held at 1:00 PM and a Funeral Service at 2:00 PM Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at Dahl Funeral & Cremation Service Tribute Center, Bozeman, MT. Floyd’s final resting place will be at Birch Hill Cemetery in Fairbanks, AK alongside his son Karl in the late spring. A Memorial in Floyd’s name may be made to the Bridger Ski Foundation, 851 Bridger Drive #4, Bozeman, MT 59715.
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