Wanda Beth Duff Boggs

Wanda Beth (Duff) Boggs passed away in her sleep on December 31, 2024 where her 4-year journey with dementia ended at age 96 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Throughout her life, and especially in her last year in memory care, she exhibited kindness, grace, compassion, appreciation of beauty, love of family and friends, and gratitude for her long life, full of adventure and love.

She was born in Buckley, Michigan on January 19, 1928 to Findley Cleveland Duff and Ethel-May (Runyan) Duff, the 11th of 13 children. She grew up on the small family farm (cow-milkers, one horse, chickens, crops…and dogs). Beth attended the local primary and secondary schools in Buckley. She was a precocious reader, who, around age 7, was tasked by the teacher to read to the younger children, allowing the teacher to work with the older students. Mother recounted reading to her two younger brothers, Bobby and Ike the beloved book, Terry and the Pirates, and that Zane Gray westerns were her favorites. Beth, at age 12, believed God called her to be a missionary to the Japanese, and to that end, continued her education at Kentucky Mountain Bible Institute, where she met and married the love of her life, C. Eldon Boggs. They together started Japanese Language Studies at Seattle Pacific College, Seattle, WA and finished with their Bachelor of Arts at Marion, IN. Then it was off to Japan, three children in tow and one in the making (two born in Tokyo). Beth and Eldon served with the indigenous Immanuel General Mission, Tokyo, founded by Dr. David Tsutada. He sent them to Japan's northern island, Hokkaido, to church plant in Sapporo. Within a little over five years, the Immanuel Sapporo Church was established, and currently thriving under the care and direction of Reverand Jonathan Tsutada, grandson to Dr. Tsutada.

The ensuing years were spent stateside working with the Methodist Church pastoring in six parishes. These years were full of continuing education: Eldon receiving his Master of Theology, and Beth receiving her Master of Arts – thesis The Life and Works of Charles Dickens. Also filling the days was Beth's love of reading, writing poetry, studying for bible studies, directing 3-act plays with the church youth group, directing madrigals in four parish churches, and publishing two books: The Religious Curse, and Grace: So Amazing.

Above all her interests, Beth loved and cherished her five children. She was a very creative mother to: G. Ann Livingstone, Merry Sue Boggs, Jonathan Eldon Boggs, Bethany Dawn Boggs ( Phil Fisher), Joel Titus Boggs (Rita Schell Boggs). She enjoyed nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Beth was preceded in death by her husband, C. Eldon Boggs, G. Ann Livingstone, Merry Sue Boggs, Jordan Wesley Boggs, Rita (Schell) Boggs, Daniel McKenzie Boggs, and is survived by Jonathan Eldon Boggs, Bethany Boggs-Fisher and Joel Titus Boggs, Allen (Ike) Duff.

An interment service will be held for Beth Boggs at Fletcher Cemetery, Jackson, KY at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the children of Beth Boggs have established a memorial fund to be sent to Immanuel Sapporo Church. Checks can be made out to Bethany Fisher for transfer to Immanuel Sapporo Church.

The children of Beth Boggs wish to express our thanks to New Mercer Commons, Aspens Memory Care facility, and Bloom Hospice Care team for the good and kind care mother received in her last year of life.

Special thanks to Goes Funeral Care, whose excellent knowledge, care, patience, and wisdom, navigated us between all the logistics necessary to honor mother while meeting the emotional needs of the family. We thank you!