Pterodactyl
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Posts posted by Pterodactyl
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I think there a few other forum members attending.
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Cole's memorial service is tomorrow in Butte. Spousal Unit and I will attend.
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Spousal Unit has decreed we shall attend.
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Cole Boehler, 60
On April 30, 2016, Cole David Boehler died in a drowning accident on the Jefferson River, one of his favorite places on earth. He has joined his parents, Virgil and Mary (Skinner) Boehler, and his special grandmother, Ida Fischer
He was born Sept. 5, 1955, in Devils Lake, ND, attended grade school in Bismarck, ND, graduating from Fairview (MT) High School in 1973. While in high school, he excelled in debate. He attended the University of Montana for two-plus years and then set out to earn a living.
Cole began newspapering in Wyoming and worked as an award-winning sales manager and journalist in North Dakota and Montana. He was a founding partner of the Nickel Saver in Butte. He also worked for Lee Enterprises in Missoula and Butte, then started The Butte Weekly with his father. After Virgil’s death, Cole started Continental Communications and published the Montana Tavern Times for 14 years.
He was fortunate enough to turn his passion for motorcycling into his work, publishing three books and two periodicals about motorcycling. He was looking forward to retirement in 2017.
He is survived by his wife of 31 years and favorite passenger, Marilyn Irey; his son Scott L., of Phoenix, AZ, of whom he was very proud; brothers Scott R. (Rebecca), Livingston, Kevin (Karen), Sidney, and Mark (Lisa Cay), Charlotte, NC; sisters Mary (Tim) Miller, Bozeman, Kim (Kim D.) Koenig, Ronan, and Lisa (Todd) Skalsky, Polson; his second dad, Leo Irey, Mesa, AZ; mother-in-law Beverly Donovan, Minot, ND; brothers-in-law Rick (Connie J.) Irey, Lake Metigoshee, ND, and Steve (Connie F) Irey, Minot, ND; aunt Elsie (Frank) Arnieri, Arlington Heights, IL, and uncle Gaylen (Pat) Fischer, Bettendorf, IA; "adopted" siblings Lib Caldwell, Livingston, and Karen Stimpson, Germany; 27 nieces and nephews and 33 great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, several aunts and uncles, step father-in-law and a great-nephew.
Cole often quoted Mark Twain: “Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die, even the undertaker will be sorry.” His family, friends and colleagues know he lived a rich and full life that could be the envy of many.
A casual memorial service will be held Friday, May 27, at 10 a.m. at The Butte Depot, 818 S. Arizona St. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ruby Valley Search and Rescue, PO Box 684, Sheridan, MT, 59749. Axelson Alternative Cremation in Butte is assisting the family with arrangements.
Express condolences at www.mtstandard.
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Where Cole was found is the start of a canyon that the Jefferson River flows through for several miles. The road winds past the Lewis and Clark Caverns and ends near where the Jefferson joins the Madison River and forms the Missouri. One of my favorite rides and a fitting spot for Cole to be found.
I cannot hope to stand in for Cole, but I can give it a try. If you find yourself in Montana and need a place to be, then give me a shout. I have a shop with a bunk room, full bath with shower and washer and dryer. There's even some motorcycle stuff in there. I don't have the in-depth knowledge of Montana riding that Cole had, but I know a little and will be happy to share. Big John and Festar have darkened our door and survived the visit, so it can't be all bad.
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Hard to predict. We are getting more moisture now and the snow pack is about average. If it stops raining, then my guess is a week or two. The process by which a body in water is normally found is not pleasant to describe, so I'll leave it there.
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From the Butte newspaper, The Montana Standard:
After an intensive day of searching produced no results Saturday, efforts to locate Cole Boehler of Butte have been suspended for now, Madison County Sheriff Roger Thompson said Saturday.
The effort to find Boehler, 60, who disappeared more than a week ago from a family campsite on the Jefferson River, involved some 35 searchers Saturday from Gallatin, Madison, Jefferson and Silver Bow counties, Thompson said. He said the searchers used both search dogs and divers.
Despite the suspension of the search, "We may reevaluate as the river changes to conduct some specific searches in places that have not yet presented themselves," Thompson said Saturday evening.
Boehler was last seen about 1:30 a.m. April 30. His leather shoes were found on the river bank, which has led search-and-rescue personnel to search the Jefferson. Authorities still believe Boehler's body may be in a side channel of the runoff-swollen Jefferson.
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As of Friday morning there have been no updates in the Butte or Helena newspapers concerning the search for Cole.
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Cole has been missing for over four days. The area where he disappeared is not remote wilderness. The Jefferson River runs through a wide agricultural valley paralleling a state highway between the towns of Twin Bridges and Silver Star; 9 miles apart. The land in close proximity to the river is treed in many areas, but in general the land is open range that extends for miles. It is hard to fathom that Cole is lost in such an area. I've ridden the area many times and can say that it would be rather easy to gain an observation point from which one could see one of the towns and any number of ranch buildings. It is difficult to maintain any sense of optimism about how this will turnout.
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Got this today from the head of our local club. Cole is Big Sky on our of forum.
Bad news this morning in the Helena Paper that Cole Boehler is the man that disappeared last Saturday while camping with family along the Jefferson River north of Twin Bridges. Cole is the editor of Motorcycling Montana and Northern Rockies Rider and has spoke at three of our LCRMC club meetings and participated in the club rally. Following are excerpts from the press release.
Authorities say the search for a missing Butte man has transitioned from a search and rescue mission to one of recovery. "Cole Boehler, 60, was last seen early Saturday morning while camping with family members on property adjacent to the Jefferson River about 6 miles north of Twin Bridges, Madison County Sheriff Roger Thompson said."
Thompson said there was no sign of foul play at the campsite and no evidence indicating Boehler was depressed or that a wild animal had been at the site. He had no known medical issues. County law enforcement and search and rescue personnel refocused their search Tuesday on the surrounding area as well as downstream from the campsite to the bridge in Waterloo.
We're gearing this right now toward more of a recovery, the sheriff said, noting the stress and the unknowns on Boehlers family.
The search will resume Wednesday morning.-------
Updated information about Cole's passing here.
Cole Boehler
"Big Sky"
Rest In Peace
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You know, of course, Don would be really pissed to have thought everyone would get all maudlin because of his death. I think he would prefer that we all tried to come up with some colorful jokes about the Irish.
+1 See Irishjokes.com
I think Don started that site.
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You know, of course, Don would be really pissed to have thought everyone would get all maudlin because of his death. I think he would prefer that we all tried to come up with some colorful jokes about the Irish.
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A man who was bigger than life itself, made every person his friend and saw the humor in every situation. Bet he is chuckling now. So long Don.
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Heard Ron Ayres just passed away. The official notice from his company...
August 28, 2015Dear xxxx,It is with deep sadness that I inform you of the passing of Ron Ayres, founder of Ayres Adventures. He passed away peacefully at his beach house in Galveston, Texas on August 26, 2015. Ron had been diagnosed with cancer early last year. He leaves behind his wife Barbara, mother Marian, sister Carolyn, and three sons Brad, Chris and David.Ron was a very special man who touched the lives of many people. He will be remembered for his kindness and generosity to all, easy humble manner, remarkable positive attitude, unsurpassed personal integrity, and most commonly uttered phrase, "Life is great!"For me personally, Ron was like a second father. I have had the privilege of knowing and working with him at Ayres Adventures for eleven years. Over the years, I enjoyed every social and professional moment we had together. Never a word of complaint or negativity - only endless optimism! He was the best life mentor I could have asked for.It is my intention to carry on Ron's legacy and ensure that Ayres Adventures continues to be the world's leading premium motorcycle touring company, along with contributions from the handpicked team of whom Ron was extremely proud.Our sincerest condolences to Ron's family and many friends. Plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later date.Sincerely,
John JessonPresident and CEOAyres Adventures -
Sad to hear. I'm a throat cancer survivor and know he did not go easily. May he RIP.
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John was buried in his Stitch, Combat Lights and with a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup beside him. Such are the reports from some who were in attendance.
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A John Ryan motel..........
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I know this may sound insensitive, but he sounds like the kind of guy that you could see getting buried in his Roadcrafter.
You would have made him grin.
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BMW MOA Member Kevin Huddy - akbeemer was a good friend of John's and helped Ryan in his attempt to get to Deadhorse, Alaska.This is the Atigun Pass on the way to Prudhoe Bay:
This is John Ryan in akbeemer - Kevin Huddy's Fairbanks garage just minutes before departing for the Arctic Ocean.
Thanks for posting those BeemerDon. I'm AKBeemer on the other forum, Pterodactyl over here. Annie and I are so sad it is difficult to fathom. John was many things: a genius in the true meaning of the word, a gentleman who was polite to just about anyone who made demands on his time, a skilled rider who was also fearless (he rode from Prudhoe Bay to Fairbanks in 6 hours and 45 minutes on an FJR with Metzler 880s, in the rain..... 500 miles with over 350 on rain slick dirt; average of 77 MPH with a fuel stop). When Annie and I met him in Fairbanks as he washed the Dalton mud off his wheels and put on the sidecases we held for him, he was as always calm, polite and more concerned about us getting home safe then he was himself. He was always looking for his next adventure and always prepared to do it his own special way. John's the reason I own an FJR. Spent a bunch of time talking to him about the bike and how to set it up. Remember his kindness, remember his skill, remember his courage and remember the man.
By the way, the picture taken in Atigun pass was taken by Jack Gustafson of Glennallen, AK one of John's many hard core Long Distance Rider friends. I was on a BMW R1200RT and had turned back long before that shot was taken.
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RIP Beemerdons
in Rest In Peace...Our FJR Riding Friends
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I have a voicemail I got from John Ryan shortly before his death saved. Somehow keeping things like Beemerdons' posts or Ryan's voicemail is comforting.