David Walter Boyer Jr.

On November 28, 2020, Dr. David Boyer died after an eleven-year struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. His wife of nearly 54 years, Mary (Olson) Boyer, was by his side. He is survived by his wife, Mary Boyer, his two sisters Cathy LoPresti and Betsy Puls, three children Penny, John, and Sarah, and seven grandchildren; however, David and Mary count many others amongst their immediate family – Donalee, Wendy, and Bob. He was predeceased by both his parents Dr. David Walter Boyer Sr. and Frances Pannill Taylor Boyer, his brother-in-law Peter LoPresti, and granddaughters Beatrice and Anne.
Born on June 15, 1941, in Pueblo CO, David was the second of three children. After completing his B.A. in political science from the University of Colorado in 1963, he served in the Marine Reserves until he was accepted to medical school, first, at the University of South Dakota and later the Weill Cornell Medical College in Manhattan, New York, from which he graduated. After choosing to specialize in orthopedics, he completed his residency at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA, in 1974.
While he chose to practice orthopedics in Rapid City, SD, as the founder of Black Hills Orthopedic and Spine Center, his heart was always in the Wet Mountain Valley. Ever since he was a child, he spent summers hiking in the Sangres, dodging lightning in the Valley’s unpredictable weather, and learning ranch skills with his father. Over his life he developed a ranch in the south end of the Valley with the help of first, Albert Hanssen, then later, Rorick Ranches. David loved to run fences, check grass and rotate cattle.
He so loved the Valley that he brought people from all parts of his life there – friends and family from South Dakota most notably. Taking lowlanders on long hikes at high elevation gave him great joy. When the hike got hard, he would always promise you were nearly there – your final destination was always just over the next ridge, past the next meadow, or beyond the next creek. David loved going to the 4H Livestock Auction at the summer fair. Even though he never intended to buy anything he almost always ended up with the final bid on an animal. When he was in town for longer stays, a weekly routine was Sunday breakfast at the bowling alley with long-time friend, Chuck Rorick. They would often follow up breakfast with a long rambling drive through the south end.
Right now, his spirit finds sanctuary in his family’s deep love for the Wet Mountain Valley. We wish him an eternity of green grass, deep Colorado sun, and long hikes to tucked away lakes high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.