Marvin Blough

1927 - 2014

Marvin Earl Blough
July 27, 1927 - March 7, 2014
Marvin was born on July 27, 1927 at a little hospital four miles from Windom, Kansas. His parents, Ona and Earl Blough, were living with Earl's parents on a wheat farm. However, the failure of a wheat crop led to the family's relocation to Idaho in 1929. The family lived outside of town and Earl worked in the general store owned by Earl's cousin, Herman Hostettler. Marvin's brother, Wayman Lester Blough, was born shortly thereafter, but died as a toddler from aspirating a peanut. Several years later, Ona and Earl had two daughter, June (Sheaffer) and Lucy (Reeves). Marvin's first job was delivering "The Grit" newspaper at age 7. He attended grade school at Kenwood and high school at Roosevelt in Nampa. During high school, he worked in his father's Standard Oil service station. Then, while working at Mr. Davies' hardware store he learned about china and crystal. After his junior year of high school, he left Nampa for McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas, where he was graduated in 1948. On June 5, 1948, Marvin married Dorris Murdock, who he met at McPherson. Shortly thereafter, Marvin and Dorris took jobs teaching school in Shallow Water, Kansas, saving as much money as possible to enable Marvin to start medical school at Kansas University.
Marvin's medical school years were memorable and happy. He made great friends, was well supported and encouraged by the Church of the Brethren, gained valuable work experience in various hospitals, and became a Democrat! Their first child, Susan, was born during his internship in Wichita.
Upon his graduation from medical school, Marvin finished his year of internship in Wichita, Kansas. Marvin and Dorris had committed to serve a medical mission in Nigeria where Marvin ran a hospital in the small village of Garkida. Marvin was the only physician for the 78 bed hospital there, working without modern plumbing or electricity. Marvin delivered their sons Kim and Lee while in Garkida.
After three years the family returned to Wichita, Kansas, where Marvin completed a year of residency in internal medicine. Lynn, the youngest son, w as born after they returned to Kansas in 1957. In 1958, Marvin joined Joe Saltzer in Nampa, specializing in internal medicine. Hearing that Garkida was again without a doctor, Marvin and his family returned to Nigeria in 1960 for another four years. When they left Garkida in 1964, Marvin and his family were honored in a village ceremony attended by hundreds of people from the surrounding area.
Upon their return to the States, Marvin finished out another two years of residency in Wichita, then moved back to Nampa where he rejoined Dr. Saltzer, by this time known as the Saltzer Medical Group in 1966. The following year, Richard Troyer joined the group and the two became partners and friends, finding in each other a kindred spirit in the delivery of quality and attentive medical care. In 1978, a small group, with Betty Johnson as coordinator of volunteers and Nat Pierce as chaplain, formed the first hospice in Idaho. Marvin became the medical director. Marvin and his office nurse, Joan Lehmkhul, used their Thursday afternoons off making house visits to hospice patients. The first patient was seen on September 9, 1979. These were all volunteers who put in hundreds of hours serving the community. After practicing at the Saltzer Medical Clinic for 37 years, he retired. In 1982, Marvin and Dorris divorced.
Later, Marvin married Mary Glover Lambert and shared their lives for over thirty years. Twenty five years after laving Nigeria, Marvin took Mary back to Garkida to experience the people, customs, warmth, and hot peppers! of West Africa. In 1990, Marvin and Mary made the first of nine trips to Puerto Rico to give service time working in a country hospital in Castaner. There, they made many new friends, including Luz Caraballo, who became their adopted daughter.
Marvin and Mary moved to Melba, Idaho in 2006 to a property covered in weeds. The weeds were cleared, and in its place they built a beautiful home. They loved their live in Melba with its panoramic view of the Owyhee Mountains and wonderful friends and neighbors. Marvin spent his retirement years reading, fixing things and taking time for others.
After a ten month struggle with pancreatic cancer, he passed away on Friday, March 7, 2014, at home surrounded by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Mary; his children, Susan (Larry Standley), Kim, Lee (Linda), and Lynn (Amy Swingen); his step-children, John (Marsha) Lambert, Mary Kay (Anne) Lambert, and David Lambert; his sister, Lucy (Joe) Reeves; his brother-in-law, Jim Sheaffer; and 12 grandchildren and step-grandchildren. He loved music and science. He was a detective searching for truth in philosophy and religion. He worked to attain peace in human relations, to mend a broken wire, loosen a rusty bolt… or treat an ailing body, giving counseling and comfort to all.
A service of celebration of Marvin's life will be held at the Nampa Civic Center on Sunday, March 30, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. Contributions in honor of Marvin may be made to DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS.