Valerie Boatright
November 5, 1952 ~ January 9, 2020
Remembering the Life of Valerie Jane Boatright
Valerie Jane Boatright, 67, died on January 9, 2020 at Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND surrounded by family and friends.
Valerie was born November 5, 1952, the daughter of Benny C. and Mildred “Millie” Boatright at Bismarck, ND.
In 1953 the family moved to Jamestown, ND when Val’s Father and Mother opened a jewelry store called Boatright Jewelers. Val attended school in Jamestown, graduating from Jamestown High School in 1970. In High School Val enjoyed spending time with friends, swimming at the Jamestown Dam. Her true passion was Gymnastics. She traveled and competed successfully at many meets.
After high school Val attended and graduated from Moorhead State College, Moorhead MN with a degree in education. While at MSU Val became a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority and made many wonderful lifetime friends. The girls spent hours playing cards, attending social functions, practicing for Songfest, and of course studying.
Upon graduation Val taught Physical Education and Coached for a year in Little Falls, MN. She then decided to return to Moorhead State College to pursue her Master’s Degree. When an opportunity became available with the Fargo Police Department working with Juveniles she decided to take a new career path in law enforcement where she worked from 1977-2007. During that period, she became the first woman sergeant in the history of the Fargo Police Department.
Valerie was an outgoing person who had a twinkle in her eye, her energy was infectious, she was spirited and strong, and had a great sense of humor. You would recognize her laugh anywhere. Val loved to golf and played almost daily at Forest Hills Golf & RV Park, her summer home, or the course at her winter home at Pueblo El Mirage in AZ. She had made many friends at those RV Parks and will be missed.
Valerie is survived by her sister, Lynn (Galen) Anderson, Mesa AZ, the love of her life, Jim (Duck) LeDoux and his two boys Nick and Jack, Fargo ,ND, sister-in-law, Cindy (Randy) Boatright, Wahpeton, ND; Aunts Sally (Lester) Laub, Bismarck, ND, and Dallas (Dale) Boatright, Fargo, ND, Uncle, Keith Boatright, Satellite Beach, FL; and a niece, Shanna Massey (Zach) Johns and son Jackson, nephews, Jonathan (Erin) Massey and sons Aiden and Jacob, Ben (Anita) Boatright and daughters Lexi, Bri, and Elly Davis Boatright, Adam (Katie) Boatright, Dustin (Haley) Boatright and many cousins and their children.
Valerie was preceded in death by her Father, Mother, and brother, Randall “Randy/Boat” Boatright.
Valerie’s family and Duck wish to thank the wonderful medical staff at Sanford Medical Center for the comfort and caring they gave Valerie.
Visitation: 4-6:00 P.M. Saturday, January 18, 2020 at Boulger Funeral Home & Celebration of Life Center, Fargo.
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Rest easy Val.
I was so sorry to hear that you were gone. I hope you’re getting all holes in one! I hope your family finds comfort and peace in their memories of time with you.
I will miss your laugh at Ducks and my poor golf shots, of which there were many, but most of all, your love for life and how you squeezed every ounce out of it you could. Rest in Eternal Peace my friend.
I was so sad to hear about your passing. I enjoyed our visits and coffee on the deck. You were a small person with a big, sweet personality!
Val your smile and laughter will be missed. It was always a pleasure to golf with you. I’m hoping there’s a stellar course in heaven!
Duck/ I am so sorry to hear about Val – I will miss her a lot!!
You will certainly be missed by many. You had a heart of gold and shared that with so many. God Bless you Val! You and so many before you can patrol heaven together once again. Sympathies to Duck, family and friends.
Val will be missed, we golfed together at Forest Hills and she always was smiling and laughing… making the game that much more enjoyable! God bless, rest in peace my friend.
So very sorry to hear of Val’s illness and passing. Enjoyed many campfires with Val, Duck, Lynn, Millie, etc…Such fun times we had at Ridgewood and oh yes, her laugh!! Gone way too soon but what wonderful memories….. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Mike and Kathy Cota
Rest in Peace Dear Lady. Alex and I will always appreciate how Val and Duck welcomed us to Forest Hills. Loved the way Val and Duck kidded each other – great times on the golf course. Will miss your laugh and smile. Our condolences to Duck, Lynn and family.
So sorry for this news. My condolences.
Another BOAT afloat in the heavenly ski. To pick us up and tell us to never give up.
Duck Gary and I are so sorry for your loss. She will be missed. She was one of the best!
Val, You were always kind, friendly, & ready to play golf! I glad I got to know you and will always remember you! RIP my friend! Jan & Jim Thomas
Dear Val I know you are now playing golf at a beautiful golf course in heaven. Save a place for me, Sandie and of course your sister Lynn to round out the foursome. You always inspired me to play better and enjoy the game. Rest In Peace till we meet again
Rest in peace Val, it was great knowing you
Our sympathy and prayers during this time of loss. 🙏
We were so very saddened to hear of Val’s passing which happened to be on my 61st Birthday. Val was the first person we met when we bought in Forest Hills. She was a great neighbor & her dog, Gussie played with our two Sheltie girls, Shiraz & Sangria. I will miss her laugh & her hugs when we’d see each other arriving for the summer at FH. Our thoughts & prayers are with Duck & Val’s family. RIP Val. You will be missed. 😢🙏
We are so going to miss Val’s welcoming smile and hello every weekend at forest hills. Val was a great neighbor and friend and is truly going to be missed by our family. Lot Gods presents hold you all. Love Rick and Beth Melander
Val was a special friend. She was an amazing woman. Her and Duck must have been quite a pair in the Force. I will greatly miss her. God Bless her family and Duck!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you Duck & family at this time!
Luke & Jill Kalsow
So sorry for your loss Duck! she will be missed!
so sorry for your loss duck. she will be misses!
I was so sad to hear about Val passing. I have wonderful memories of our single years living across from each other, our San Francisco trip and other road trips we took. And yes , the partying we did. Rest in peace, Val.
Love and light to you and your family
So sorry to hear about Val. Her brother Randy was a classmate of mine at JHS and I remember his stories about his sis. Rest in peace.
Our sympathies reach out to Val’s friends and family. Great memory at Forest Hills.
So sorry to hear that we lost a wonderful classmate. Duck, she mentioned you always when we chatted, she loved you dearly. Rest peacefully, Val.
We sat next to each other in many classes. I enjoyed talking with her during our 40th high school reunion. Very sorry for your loss.
Even though I had not seen Val for some time, we touched base on occasion through facebook, I had the pleasure of working with Val at times through her Law Enforcement career and remember her laugh, and what the job meant to her. Val was a good one who will be missed, prayers to Duck and family, many good times to remember. All take care as Val is smiling and at peace.
Godspeed Val.
Rest In Peace Valerie……
I’m so sorry to hear about Val; I didn’t even know she was ill. One of my favorite people at Fargo PD. She’s one of the reasons I really like cops.
Valerie was part of a Greek system golden era at Moorhead State College (now MSUM) in the early 1970s. Fraternities and sororities were in their heyday…..Val was well known by many of us in the four sororities and four fraternities……..all of us coming together in the annual Songfest which I am happy to see mentioned in the write-up about Valerie. Rest in peace, Val.
May fond memories of Val bring you comfort during this hard time in your life. Warm thoughts and prayers go out to you, Duck and your entire family.
To Valerie’s Family, I was able to meet Val when she would come to Golden Living Center to visit her mom Millie. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. May God Comfort you at this difficult time. Love & Prayers are being sent to you at this time.
Hello Jim ; I was made aware of your loss threw a mutual friend. My sincere condolences. I am sorry as well. Sending love to you and to all who feel the loss of Valerie. Sincerely your former classmate.
We are so sorry to hear the news that Val has passed. Jane and Steve Conlin
My sympathy on the loss of Valerie. I worked for the city of Fargo but never met her. I did serve in the National Guard with her brother Randy. Two people gone to soon.
Our deepest sympathy to Duck and Val’s family! We golfed and socialized with Val every summer for the past 15 years at Forest Hills! Even if having a bad round at golf, she would always say “at least we are outside getting some exercise”! She was always great at offering advise to improve your game. She will be missed by us and everyone else at Forest Hills. Until we meet again Val, Rest In Peace!
Oh Val, I will miss you….in the summers, especially. Loved that you could get away from golf for some lake time with friends, and Gussie. You left too soon, but will always be remembered, my friend.
Our deepest condolences to all the family & friends….may you rest in paradise Val. I enjoyed knowing and working with you at the department. I’ll always remember your laugh and smile. 🙂 God Bless. ~
RIP Val! Loved working with you! I can still hear your infectious laugh! I was shocked when I heard the news but I know you are at peace with our Heavenly Father! So sorry to your family (Duck and Gussie🐾) Love you forever♥️Tes (Pavek) Schroeder 🙏
What a Beautiful Tribute and Beautiful woman♥️🙏
We will miss seeing Val’s smiling face at Forest Hills. She was the first person we golfed with when first moving there and enjoyed other visits with her over the years. Our sympathy to Duck and the rest of her family.
I am deeply saddened by Val’s death. I worked with her for years at Fargo P.D. Went on ski trip’s to Montana, learned to scuba dive together and rode horseback at Maplewood State Park. Great times – great memories. She will be missed.
Maureen
What a beautiful video. Although we caught up on Facebook, I sure wish we could have seen each other again at the reunions. Missing you old friend. It took me a long time to go back and finally look at this. I hope your and friends have wonderful memories to comfort them. I will always remember our time in gymnastics.
So sorry for your loss I’m a class mate and graduate of 1970