Joseph A. “Joe” Boespflug, 87, died Sunday, July 11, 2021 at the St. Luke’s Home, Dickinson. Joe’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Msgr. Gene Lindemann as the celebrant. Interment will take place the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Military honors will be provided by the Dickinson American Legion Post 3 Honor Guard. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., with a rosary and vigil at 6 p.m., with Deacon Logan Obrigewitch presiding. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Joseph A. Boespflug was born March 4, 1934 in Taylor, the son of Ralph Sr. and Emelia (Goetzfriedt) Boespflug. Joe was raised and educated in Taylor. He enlisted in the United States Air Force on July 3, 1953 and was stationed in Tokyo Japan for two years. Joe was united in marriage to Arlys Semerad on April 5, 1956. They spent two years at Fairchild AirBase in Spokane, Wash. He was honorably discharged on July 2, 1957.
Joe and Arlys returned to Dickinson where he worked at various jobs until he joined the Dickinson Police Department and eventually the Dickinson Fire Department in the 1960’s. He became the Chief in 1976 and held this position until his retirement in 1994.
He was President of the ND Firefighters Assoc., ND Fire Chief Assoc., and the International Assoc. of Fire Chiefs—Missouri Valley Division. Joe was also the Director for the International Assoc.
In his free time he enjoyed working on and repairing clocks, tinkering with old tractors, gardening, fishing, traveling in the motorhome and wintering in Arizona. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Joe is survived by his wife, Arlys; children, Kelly (Reyne), Grand Forks, Scott (Stephanie), Bismarck, and Joel (Kelly), Bismarck; grandchildren, Brandon (Katie) Boespflug, Nicole (Darin) Hultberg, and Travis (Tiffany) Boespflug; great-grandchildren, Skylarr, Kyedehl, Brekkin, Kadon, Chayson, Jaxton, Judson, Brynlie, Havyn and Sutton; sisters, Tillie Lindemann, Bismarck and Betty Bier, St. Charles, Mo.; sister-in-law, Frieda Boespflug; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Ralph; and brothers-in-law, Arnold Lindemann and Don Bier.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, or to a charity of your choice.
