Bernard Anthony Joseph "Barney" Boos

SIOUX FALLS - Bernard "Barney" Anthony Joseph Boos died on August 29, 2005, at Avera Prince of Peace in Sioux Falls. He was 96 years of age. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 31, with Scripture Vigil at 7:30 p.m., followed by a rosary at the Barnett/Lewis Funeral Home. The mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 1, at St Joseph Cathedral, with burial to follow at Fulda, Minnesota. Barney was born on August 22, 1909, at home on the family farm in Fulda, Minnesota, to Peter and Bertha (Vollmer) Boos. He was one of 13 children. His mother died when Barney was seven years old. Although the family struggled without their mother, Barney believed his mother was a saint and her intercessions kept him out of trouble many times. Barney enjoyed all athletics, and tolerated schooling. He graduated from Fulda High School. Barney moved to Sioux Falls and enrolled at Augustana College with little to no money, but a lot of determination. Barney worked several jobs, including yardman at a steel company, assistant hog buyer, gas station manager, and lifeguard. The Augustana Registrar agreed to enroll Barney, thinking he would either drop-out or fail within the first quarter. Barney was up to the challenge and enlisted a friend to tutor him at the start, and his brother Bart to run the gas station when he was in school. Barney excelled at all college athletics he participated in, football, basketball, boxing, and wrestling. He gained the respect of many people for his "wholesome and genuine spirit" and graduated from Augustana in 1938 with a BA in History. Barney was Recreation Director for the City of Sioux Falls and about to become an FBI agent when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He immediately changed his plans and enlisted in the United States Marines. Although he enlisted as a Private, he was promoted to Lieutenant on the battlefield. Barney fought in many battles of the South Pacific, Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tarawa, Saipan, and Tinian. On Tulagi, the commander of the Japanese forces surrendered to Lt. Boos. One of the men under Barney's command wrote to Barney's father, "... I will say from the bottom of my heart if I have to go back again and fight he is the only one I would want to follow into battle ... he was cool as a piece of ice..." Barney received two Commendations from the United States Navy. The first concerned his entering caves occupied by the enemy on Tanambago, while subject to heavy fire, and silencing the enemy fire "by courageous and decisive action" three times. He received a bullet hole through his helmet one of those times. The second Commendation concerned his voluntarily retracing 150 yards over dangerous reef and enemy machine-gun fire on Tarawa, to rescue two wounded soldiers. Although he was ordered not to go after the soldiers, he said, "If I was out there, I would want someone to help me, so I took off." Barney was known to say, "It took a war to get me married." Barney met Madeline Bolger, a Navy nurse from Brooklyn, New York, when he was stationed at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. Although Miss Bolger declined his offer to meet him at the bar, he accepted her offer to meet him after Mass the following morning. They corresponded during the remainder of the War, and were married as soon as he returned home on December 4, 1945. Barney returned, with his bride, to Sioux Falls after the War. The only job he could find initially was a railroad switchman during blizzards, but he was glad to have the work. When the first of his seven children was born, it was said his chest could be seen a block away from where he stood, and he felt the same for all seven! He also made it known to his children that in choosing his wife he had chosen the best possible mother. Barney served as Minnehaha County Sheriff from 1948-1952, and 1962-1970, United States Marshal from 1953-1961, South Dakota State Representative for Minnehaha County in 1953, and, after retiring from law enforcement to become a real estate agent, he retired to his home and became "the hired man for no pay." Barney lived comfortably at home for many years until he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed in 1994. His wife cared for him at home until 2002 when they both moved to Prince of Peace. Barney is survived by his wife Madeline, his brother Bart Boos of Rapid City, his seven children - Barbara (Gale) Thomassen of Sioux Falls, Bernard "Tony" Boos, Jr. of Minneapolis, John (Dee) Boos of Sioux Falls, George Boos of Milbank, Kathleen (Steve) Satterlee of Spearfish, Paul J. Boos of New York City, and Joan Boos (Douglas) Schueller of Pierre, and many nephews, nieces, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.