Jeffrey Merrill Rutherford
Jeffrey Merrill Rutherford
Jeff went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the evening of Wednesday, January 24th, at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, after a three-year battle with cancer. He was born on August 6th, 1955, in Boise, Idaho. He is the son of James G. Rutherford and Barbara A. Stroud-Rutherford and was one of four boys along with Eric, Dirk, and Todd.
Jeff was the son of a Morrison Knudsen employee, and frequent relocations were a part of his childhood. Over a span of 11 years, he lived in 13 different states, including North Dakota, where he graduated from Langdon High School. Jeff’s education continued at Boise State University, where he earned a degree in Industrial Business and grew a love for the Broncos.
During college, Jeff worked for Morrison Knudsen on the Alaska Pipeline terminal in Valdez, Alaska. Following college, he embarked on a professional journey that led him to working for companies like Industrial Indemnity, Hewlett Packard, Print Incorporated, ProClarity, and Microsoft. The final stop in his illustrious career path was co-founding and serving as COO of WhiteCloud Analytics, a successful health system technology company in Boise.
He was married to Becky Showman of Boise for 32 years, and together, they had three sons: Todd, Brett, and Ryan.
In September of 2016 he married Jenny Kelleher of Aurora, Colorado. Jeff considered Jenny’s son, Parker Sandoval, 16, as his own.
Jeff had a deep passion for golfing with his friends and sons and participating in and supporting many golf tournaments around Idaho. He was a fierce competitor, but he also knew how to have fun. His active spirit went far beyond the golf course, as he enjoyed skiing, hunting, fishing, and traveling. In his earlier years, Jeff enjoyed coaching youth sports, including baseball, basketball, and soccer. Later he was able to pick up this pastime again by watching stepson Parker compete in baseball games and tournaments. He was well known in each sporting community, both as coach/mentor and spectator/fan.
As aforementioned, Jeff was an avid fan of Boise State Athletics and held season tickets for both basketball and football. The last football game he attended was with wife Jenny, his sons Todd, Brett, and Parker, and his grandson, Carter, 4. This was Carter’s first live football experience, and Jeff was thrilled it was at Bronco Stadium for the 2017 Mountain West Championship game.
Jeff loved helping others and welcoming people into his home and heart. He served on the Elder Board of Cole Community church for a number of years, and along with his family, hosted seven foreign exchange students from around the world over a period of years. He considered them all part of the family.
At the end of 2017, Jeff, his wife, sons, daughter in law, and grandsons all spent a wonderful holiday week together at their cabin in New Meadows, Idaho. His family is so thankful for that week and find peace knowing that some of “Poppa” Jeff’s last days were spent with his grandsons – watching them sled, playing games, and cuddling by the fire.
Jeff is survived by his wife Jenny Rutherford, stepson Parker Sandoval, sons Brett and Todd (Laura), and grandsons Carter, Colton, and Cameron. He is also survived by stepmother Norma Rutherford of Tucson, Arizona, sister-in-law Tina Rutherford Kent of Castle Rock, Colorado, stepbrother Craig Baugh of Tucson, Arizona, stepsister Molli Wingert, nephew Christopher Wingert of Eagle, Idaho, niece Lisa Rutherford of Aurora, Colorado, nephew JC Rutherford of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Brian Rutherford of Jupiter, Florida. Selena, Tony, and Julie Serrano are his great nieces and nephew. Jeff is survived by my many other extended family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents JW Rutherford, Millie Cox-Rutherford, and Genevieve Imus – his maternal grandmother. He also preceded in death by parents James G. Rutherford and Barbara-Stroud Rutherford, brothers Eric, Dirk, and Todd Rutherford, step-brother Troy Baugh, and son Ryan Rutherford.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 10th, at Calvary Chapel of Boise. A graveside service for family members will be held shortly after at Morris Hill Cemetery. A reception will be held at Stueckle Sky Center in the Skyline Room after the funeral service.
In addition, a Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 18th, at Eastern Hills Community Church in Aurora, CO. A reception will immediately follow at Blackstone Country Club at 4:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to, St. Luke’s MSTI, C/O St. Luke’s Health Foundation, 190 E Bannock St, Boise, ID 83712, PH: 208-381-2123, foundation@slhf.org, Memo: Jeff Rutherford; or to the Capital High School baseball program and facility, where there is a memorial to Jeff’s son Ryan, who loved to play the game.
1955-2018
Jeff was the son of a Morrison Knudsen employee, and frequent relocations were a part of his childhood. Over a span of 11 years, he lived in 13 different states, including North Dakota, where he graduated from Langdon High School. Jeff’s education continued at Boise State University, where he earned a degree in Industrial Business and grew a love for the Broncos.
During college, Jeff worked for Morrison Knudsen on the Alaska Pipeline terminal in Valdez, Alaska. Following college, he embarked on a professional journey that led him to working for companies like Industrial Indemnity, Hewlett Packard, Print Incorporated, ProClarity, and Microsoft. The final stop in his illustrious career path was co-founding and serving as COO of WhiteCloud Analytics, a successful health system technology company in Boise.
He was married to Becky Showman of Boise for 32 years, and together, they had three sons: Todd, Brett, and Ryan.
In September of 2016 he married Jenny Kelleher of Aurora, Colorado. Jeff considered Jenny’s son, Parker Sandoval, 16, as his own.
Jeff had a deep passion for golfing with his friends and sons and participating in and supporting many golf tournaments around Idaho. He was a fierce competitor, but he also knew how to have fun. His active spirit went far beyond the golf course, as he enjoyed skiing, hunting, fishing, and traveling. In his earlier years, Jeff enjoyed coaching youth sports, including baseball, basketball, and soccer. Later he was able to pick up this pastime again by watching stepson Parker compete in baseball games and tournaments. He was well known in each sporting community, both as coach/mentor and spectator/fan.
As aforementioned, Jeff was an avid fan of Boise State Athletics and held season tickets for both basketball and football. The last football game he attended was with wife Jenny, his sons Todd, Brett, and Parker, and his grandson, Carter, 4. This was Carter’s first live football experience, and Jeff was thrilled it was at Bronco Stadium for the 2017 Mountain West Championship game.
Jeff loved helping others and welcoming people into his home and heart. He served on the Elder Board of Cole Community church for a number of years, and along with his family, hosted seven foreign exchange students from around the world over a period of years. He considered them all part of the family.
At the end of 2017, Jeff, his wife, sons, daughter in law, and grandsons all spent a wonderful holiday week together at their cabin in New Meadows, Idaho. His family is so thankful for that week and find peace knowing that some of “Poppa” Jeff’s last days were spent with his grandsons – watching them sled, playing games, and cuddling by the fire.
Jeff is survived by his wife Jenny Rutherford, stepson Parker Sandoval, sons Brett and Todd (Laura), and grandsons Carter, Colton, and Cameron. He is also survived by stepmother Norma Rutherford of Tucson, Arizona, sister-in-law Tina Rutherford Kent of Castle Rock, Colorado, stepbrother Craig Baugh of Tucson, Arizona, stepsister Molli Wingert, nephew Christopher Wingert of Eagle, Idaho, niece Lisa Rutherford of Aurora, Colorado, nephew JC Rutherford of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Brian Rutherford of Jupiter, Florida. Selena, Tony, and Julie Serrano are his great nieces and nephew. Jeff is survived by my many other extended family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents JW Rutherford, Millie Cox-Rutherford, and Genevieve Imus – his maternal grandmother. He also preceded in death by parents James G. Rutherford and Barbara-Stroud Rutherford, brothers Eric, Dirk, and Todd Rutherford, step-brother Troy Baugh, and son Ryan Rutherford.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 10th, at Calvary Chapel of Boise. A graveside service for family members will be held shortly after at Morris Hill Cemetery. A reception will be held at Stueckle Sky Center in the Skyline Room after the funeral service.
In addition, a Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 18th, at Eastern Hills Community Church in Aurora, CO. A reception will immediately follow at Blackstone Country Club at 4:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to, St. Luke’s MSTI, C/O St. Luke’s Health Foundation, 190 E Bannock St, Boise, ID 83712, PH: 208-381-2123, foundation@slhf.org, Memo: Jeff Rutherford; or to the Capital High School baseball program and facility, where there is a memorial to Jeff’s son Ryan, who loved to play the game.
1955-2018
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