Born on a share cropper’s farm in Stafford County, Seward, Kansas July 12, 1932 to John
Bothum and Jenny (McBride), Rex Bothum passed away at his home March 2, 2018.
His family moved to Woodburn, Oregon in 1946. Rex attended Woodburn High School and joined the U.S. Army, serving most of his enlistment on Okinawa during the Korean War. He was discharged Dec. 12, 1952 and joined the Oregon Air National Guard and was sent to Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi for training as an Air Passenger and Operations Specialist which he completed Nov. 23, 1954 and
returned to Portland Air Base.
Rex met his true love in 1959 and married Astrid Severin on
Feb. 6, 1960 at St Marks Lutheran Church in Salem. They made their first home in Salem.
He transferred from the Oregon Air Guard to the Oregon Army National Guard May 24, 1960 as Administration Supply Technician,Recruiter and First Sargent for Troop C, 1St Recon Squadron 82nd Armor. He was
medically discharged from serving the country that he was so proud of. Rex and his brothers always had a horse on the farm in Kansas and Woodburn, and they became involved in rodeo. Often there would be as many as five Bothums entered in events at a rodeo.
After suffering a severe injury in a bull riding competition in 1965 Rex was forced to give up the sport and even though the doctor said “no more bull riding” he never said Rex couldn’t break and ride horses. Rex continued with that passion for the next 40 plus years.
In 1966 he and Astrid purchased a small farm in Silverton, the Lazy 2B Ranch, and continued with his love of raising and training horses and a few Longhorn cattle just to admire.
He was a charter member of Keizer Elks and and an associate member of Silverton Elks. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the
Appaloosa Horse Club, 1978-1987 and President1986-1987, traveling the US to promote the breed and attend meetings. Rex was a board member of the Oregon Appaloosa Horse Club and assisted in the formation of the Oregon Appaloosa Racing Association.
Rex was a past member of Salem Golf Club taking up the challenge of golf after his first heart surgery and later became a member at Evergreen Golf Club with two holes in one to his credit. He was a voracious reader of Western novels, US history and loved a good Western movie or TV program, often viewing the same one many times. He loved his elk
hunting trips with his brothers, nephews and friends, and bird hunting and fishing trips with special friends. Rex enjoyed entertaining family and friends on holidays and outdoor barrel chicken barbecues on the farm, traditions he would not give up. He was the greatest story teller ever, sharing his last ones in December around a campfire at a celebration in Woodburn and later with his nephews and brother at home during his “final rodeo”.
Rex is survived by his beloved wife Astrid, of 58 years; sisters June Hammond, of Albany, Jean Bonacker, of Tigard, and Mary Lou Rhine, of Eugene; brothers Marvin, of Culver, and Jim, of Heppner, and many nieces and nephews and their families including those acquired in his marriage to Astrid. He loved each of them in his own special way. He had many wonderful friends and a special red-headed friend and spouse from Lodi, California. He was preceded in death by his sister Irene and brothers Keith, Kenneth, Kermit, J. Shirly and Tony.
Celebration of Life for Rex June 24, 2 p.m. at Scenic Valley Farm, 12423 River Road NE, Gervais, Oregon.
