Harold Southwick

Obituary of Harold Edward Southwick

Harold Edward Southwick, age 86, of Glenns Ferry passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Boise.  Cremation is under the care of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Harold was born on September 29, 1936, to Clyde and Louise Holst Southwick in Jerome, Idaho. Over the years, the family lived in various places throughout Idaho before settling in Bruneau, where Harold graduated from Bruneau High School in 1956. He joined the Army in 1959 and completed his basic training at Ft. Ord. After being stationed briefly at Ft. Bragg, he was sent to Frankfurt, Germany, where he served as the aid to a 3rd Division Army General for 17 months. When he left the service in 1961, his parents had relocated to King Hill, and he returned home from Germany to help them on the family farm and worked at the Mountain Home Air Force Base. This is when he met the love of his life, Sue Hitesman. The two were married a year later and lived in Washington State until 1965, when they moved to Glenns Ferry. Here they lived a long, happy life together. They raised their children, served their church and community well, built countless lifelong friendships, and created a warm, loving home where the door was always open and anyone who entered felt welcome. Harold was employed at Sailor Creek from 1965-1995, where he worked in several different roles farming potatoes, grain, beans, and mint. He also served as a volunteer EMT for 11 years. When he retired from Sailor Creek in 1995, he and Sue spent the next five years delivering travel trailers from manufacturers to dealerships all over the U.S and Canada before fully retiring in 2000. After retiring Harold decided to try his hand at writing and had two books published, The Way Back Home in 2009 and The Trail from Here in 2012.

Harold loved fishing, boating, camping, and working in his garden and especially enjoyed sharing these pastimes with his family. He also loved watching sports, especially the Boise State Broncos, Denver Broncos, and Cleveland Indians. One of his greatest passions though was serving as a volunteer at church. For many years he faithfully served as a deacon, adult Sunday School teacher, and song leader at First Baptist Church of Glenns Ferry. In more recent years he was a member of First Baptist Church of Mountain Home. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather who worked hard to provide for his family. He had a funny sense of humor, as well as a mischievous side. He was a devout Christian who loved to share his faith with others.

Harold leaves behind his devoted wife of almost 61 years, Sue, of Glenns Ferry; daughters Michelle (Charlie) Martinez, Lisa (Stephen) Neel, and Amy (Tracy) Goeken; grandsons Jacob (Shawna) Neel, Zachary (Mackenzie) Neel, Quinn Goeken, and Quade Goeken; granddaughter Kaelyn Goeken; great granddaughter Aaliyah Neel; brother Marvin (Judy) Southwick; and numerous nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, and cousins. He was also looking forward to the birth of his first great grandson in May of this year.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Louise Southwick; three sisters Glyda Southwick, Peggy Steinbach, and Oleatha Kelly; and four brothers Eldon, Floyd, Dwight, and Arthur Southwick.

Our family is deeply saddened by Harold’s passing, but we take great comfort in knowing that, as soon as he took his last breath here on earth, he saw the face of Jesus and heard the words, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” His body has been made whole again, and we will see him again one day.

A Celebration of Life will be held this summer, more details to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for any donations to be made in Harold’s name either to Samaritan’s Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org or to The Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Harold Southwick, please visit Tribute Store
A Memorial Tree was planted for Harold
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Rost Funeral Home and Crematory
Share Your Memory of
Harold