Douglas Lee Rutherford of Boise, Idaho, passed away suddenly on July 8, 2021.
A memorial service will be held at Restored Community Church, 3633 W. Floating Feather Road, Eagle, Idaho 83616 at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 21st, 2021.
A reception/potluck will follow the service at 12:30 p.m. at Hi Valley RV Park Lodge, 10555 Horseshoe Bend Road, Boise, ID. Come join us to celebrate Doug’s life with family, friends and coworkers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the University of Washington’s Transplant Center.
https://online.gifts.washington.edu/peer2peer/Campaign/transplant-research-and-medicine1
If you prefer to give by mail, please make your check payable to the University of Washington Foundation and indicate “Transplant Research and Medicine, in Memory of Doug Rutherford” on the memo line. You can mail your check to the following address.
University of Washington Foundation
Box 359505
Seattle, WA 98195
His mother, Marian, and his younger brother, Brad, precede him in death.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Elizabeth & his loving dog Frankie (ID); his daughter Shelley & husband Greg Bell (TX); his son, Burt, (CA); his father, Garold (FL); his sister Ann & husband Robert Roby (FL); his brother Tom & wife Sue Rand (WA); & many cousins, nieces, nephews & friends.
Doug was born September 24, 1954, in Cedar Rapids, IA to Garold & Marian Rutherford. He grew up in Richardson, TX and attended Richardson High School. During college, he was the roadie & sound technician for the band, Crosstown (1974-75).
Doug worked as a Route Manager with the Dallas Morning News for 28 years (1977-2007). In 2007, he moved to Boise, ID, so he could hit the ski slopes after work. In Idaho, he worked for the Idaho Statesman (2007-2015) & the US Post Office. He delivered mail from 5-Mile Post Office & Garden City Post Office as a Rural Route carrier (2007-July 8, 2021).
In April 2015, he received a liver transplant, which was a success! When he wasn’t eating Tex-Mex or Whataburger, you could find Doug skiing or mountain biking at Bogus Basin. He loved camping, hiking, kayaking & yodeling contests with his son Burt. In recent years, he developed a killer smoking habit with his daughter Shelley… smoking meat that is!
We will never know what his last words were, but as a Pinky & the Brain fan, we submit to you, “Naaaaaarf!”
Condolence(1)-
Murry McKenzie says
August 20, 2021 at 3:00 pmDoug was one of my best friends growing up. He was a real blessing to this world and will be missed. Blessings to Elizabeth and the rest of the family. Murry