John P. Bushfield passed away peacefully at Mountain View Manor in Eureka, Montana on September 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 19th, 1924 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, 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 WWII 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 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 September 4th, 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, Noxon and 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 chauffer 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 February 23rd, 1998. They were blessed with six children: Pam Osler (Greg), Mike Bushfield (Marti), Kit Holder (Mike), Terrence Bushfield, John W. Bushfield, Tim Bushfield (Kathy).
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.
1 great great granddaughter, Aspen Stacy. He also has 1 nephew, Kenneth Self of Lake Oswego, Oregon. 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, Friday, October 19th at 1:00PM at Faith Presbyterian Church, 9485 N Maple St, Hayden, Idaho, 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.
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