Tom Bozied's Mother Passes Away

On January 12, 2021, Leona Bozied, mother of Tom, Donna, Bob, and the late David, passed away. In the 1950's, Tom and I grew up just one house apart from each other a block south of the courthouse. The courthouse lawn and the ball fields at Central Elementary were our playgrounds. Before Tom could play after supper, though, his mother would lead the family in devotions. Her strong faith was highlighted in her obituary. http://eidsnessfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/Eidnse1/obit.cgi?user=551870Bozied

When we were in second grade, I broke my arm toward the end of the school year. Fortunately, the cast came off just before the start of the Little League baseball season. However, on that same day, I believe, Tom broke his arm, and had to miss all of the baseball season.

In third grade, we had the same teacher, Mrs. Alma Peterson. Her husband was the science and shop teacher in the junior high. I often would stop at Tom's before school and we would watch Captain Kangaroo until about 8:50, as school started at 9. She told us we could probably watch another five minutes and still get to school on time, so we did.

When we got a little older, Tom may have been one of the first to drive (his dad did have the Conoco station at 6th and Main). When we played teener baseball, I believe he had an old jeep that was started with a hand-held crank. That was about 1965, and that baseball team won the state tournament. One of our coaches, by the way was Nancy Webbenhurst's brother Bob. Winning the state tournament qualified us for the area tournament at Igloo, South Dakota. Igloo was a small town in the southern Black Hills near the Nebraska-Wyoming border. Winning that tournament qualified us for the national tournament in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Tom's dad and a few other fathers were chaperones on that trip. That excursion was quite an experience. Hershey Park had some amazing rides and amusements that were unlike anything that was offered by the carnivals that appeared in Brookings during those years.

There are more stories that could be told, but they can be mentioned at a later time. For those of you who read this, feel free to add your own.

Our condolences go out to Tom and his family at this difficult time.