Vic Gehring

Victor Theodore Gehring, age 84, was born on December 29, 1938, near Keuterville, Idaho. He left this world on December 17th in the comfort of his home of 54 years, surrounded by his loving family.
Vic grew up on a ranch 4 miles south of Keuterville. During childhood, Vic frequently went to the Fountain Place on the Salmon River to help with haying. One memory was of his brother Dave and their dad drinking 7 1/2 gallons of water by noon due to the scorching heat. These experiences shaped Vic's resilience and the hard work he demonstrated his entire life.
In his earlier years, Vic served in the Army from 1958 to 1960, stationed in Paris as a teletype communicator. He was a part of history when he took the initial message the U-2 Spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. A message that was quickly delivered to President Eisenhower. His service time allowed him to travel to various locations, including Spain, the Balearic Islands, and Newfoundland. His time in the military was an adventure that he fondly recalled throughout his life.
On October 27, 1962, Vic married the love of his life, Shirley Duman, in a ceremony in Cottonwood, Idaho. Together, they began a journey that spanned six decades, five children, and 61 years of marriage filled with joys, sorrows, and the love of raising a family.
In 1969, Vic and Shirley purchased a ranch one mile west of Keuterville, where they raised their family. The home and ranch became Vic's favorite place. He took pride in milking cows, raising steers, pigs, and chickens, and filling hay barns and grain bins.
One of Vic's greatest joys was spending time at his property out at Westlake, where he fixed fences, checked cattle, watched for wildlife, made firewood, or simply enjoyed being in the woods. The Westlake property became a family favorite to spend time year-round.
For 35 years, Vic dedicated himself to the Lewiston Grain Growers in Cottonwood, where daily jobs included loading and unloading grain trucks, semis, and train cars, delivering seed, fertilizer, and other agricultural products to farmers. He eventually worked his way to manager of the Cottonwood office for many years. In 2004, he retired with farmers and ranchers across the Camas Prairie, expressing how much they would miss his hard, reliable work ethic.
Vic found immense joy in the simple pleasures of life. He was an avid fisherman and hunter, furthering his love of the great outdoors. Yearly hunting trips to Dixie with good friends were memories he cherished his entire life. Other hunting trips on the Lochsa with his sons Lonny, Ryan, Steve, and family friend Brent Goeckner were among his favorite times of the year. As Vic gained grandsons, he attended their sporting events, celebrated birthdays, camped, and fished together.
Vic will be remembered for his kindness, strong work ethic, the love he shared with his family, and his radiant smile. He always left a conversation by making someone laugh with his quick-witted, side-splitting one-liners! He leaves a legacy of resilience, dedication, and the importance of cherishing the simple moments in life.
He is survived by his loving wife, Shirley, and their five children: Lonny (Lisa) Gehring, Shari Gehring, Gina (Jon) Munkers, Ryan (Sheri) Gehring, and Steve Gehring. Grandchildren: Jared & Josh Gehring, Benjamin & Andrew Munkers, and Logan & Myles Gehring. He has three surviving in-laws on the Gehring side: Claudia Gehring, Anna Gehring, and JD Lauer. His memory will forever live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him.
Vic joins his parents, Ted & Inez Gehring, and seven siblings, Ethel, Jim, Bob, Dorothy, Mary, Dave, and Carol, in heaven.
A rosary will be held at 10 a.m. prior to the funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Cottonwood, ID on Saturday, December 23, 2023. A reception and dinner will be held at theKeuterville hall following mass.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Mary's Church or the Monastery of St. Gertrude's in honor of Vic's memory. A catered lunch will be served immediately following the service at Keuterville hall. Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Send condolences to the family at blackmerfuneralhome.com.
Rest in peace, Dad. Your presence will be deeply missed, but your spirit will remain forever in our hearts. You are now on to your final resting place and no longer, as you say, "Overworked and underpaid!"
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