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In Memoriam

Boyd Rood, who served Idaho and the transportation department in many regions of the state, recently passed away at the age of 73. He retired in 1988 after three decades with ITD. He was the district engineer in Coeur d’Alene where he was involved in construction of Interstate 90, and was an assistant district engineer in Lewiston where he worked on construction of White Bird Hill south of Grangeville.

From the Idaho Statesman
Willard Boyd Rood
Willard Boyd Rood went to be with his Savior on Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Boyd was born on March 25, 1935 to Willard Rood and Beulah Boyd Rood in Salmon, Idaho. He was raised on a ranch in the backcountry of the Salmon River, attending a one-room school for eight years. He graduated as valedictorian of his high school class in Challis and received his civil engineering degree from the University of Idaho.

Boyd went to work for the Idaho Transportation Department in Shoshone in 1958. He worked on all phases of engineering throughout the districts and at headquarters in Boise, but he most enjoyed construction.

He was Assistant District Engineer in Lewiston from 1975 to 1985. During this time, the Lewiston and White Bird Hill grades were completed. He was promoted to District Engineer in Coeur d'Alene where he dealt with complicated issues of the interstate construction. He retired there in 1988.

After his retirement from the state, Boyd worked as a consulting engineer, retiring from Lake City Engineering in 2003. He greatly enjoyed his engineering experiences. Boyd married Roberta Wheeler in 1969. To this union were born Jennifer and Robert (Bobby).

In 1992 Boyd met Dolores Rowlan, who soon became his loving wife and best friend. They moved to Emmett where Boyd wrote two books. The first was on the history of the Salmon River backcountry and the second about the golden years of working for the highway department.

Boyd and Dolores enjoyed 15 years of happiness. He was fondly called Gramps by his 10 grandchildren. They loved his stories of growing up "back in the sticks" and often begged Gramps for "one more story."

Boyd was a devout Christian and active church leader who served faithfully in many areas of responsibility. He was a member of Gideons International and was passionate about the distribution of Bibles to the world. His heart's desire was that family and friends would come to know his Savior, Jesus, as their own. Boyd is survived by his wife, Dolores; mother-in-law, Frances Harris; daughter, Jennifer Rood of Los Angeles, Calif.; son, Robert Rood of Bellingham, Wash.; step-children, Tim Rowlan of Phoenix, Ariz., Shelley (Jason) Engle of Spokane, Wash., Merrie (Heath) Martin of Shoshone, Idaho; and grandchildren, Austin Rowlan, Caitlin, Cassidy, and Christian Phillips, Kyria, Christopher, Kaila, Karissa, Katrina, and Katherine Martin.

He was adored by all and is greatly missed. Boyd was preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Boyd's name to the Gideons International c/o Community Bible Church, 120 E. 3rd Street, Emmett, Idaho 836l7. Funeral services were held Monday, May 12, 2008 at the Potter Funeral Chapel in Emmett. Burial followed in the Emmett Cemetery.