Ralph C. Boehm

Ralph Christopher Boehm, 93, of Temecula, CA,  formerly of Mandan, ND, peacefully passed away on August 4, 2023 in Murrieta, California.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Thursday, September 14^th at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mandan.  Burial will follow at 12 Noon Thursday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

Ralph was born in Mandan, ND on November 24, 1929 to Adam Jacob (former sheriff) and Catherine Johanna (Gress) Boehm who had a total of eight children (7 boys and 1 girl). He was raised in Mandan and graduated from Mandan High School in 1947. He earned a B.S. in Pharmacy from North Dakota State University in 1951. He later actively served in the U.S. Air Force where he rose to the rank of Colonel before settling into private work in the Bismarck-Mandan area. 

In 1956, he met and married his wife of 67 years, Gloria Don (Miller) Boehm (formerly of Bismarck). Later while working at North Dakota State University as a Pharmacy professor, he completed his Masters Degree in Pharmacy. 

In 1962, he joined the Veterans Affairs pharmacy service in Fargo then moved to Memphis, Tennessee to become Chief of Pharmacy Services while also working as faculty member at University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy.

In 1965, Ralph was promoted to Deputy Director Department of Veterans Affairs (VA Central Office) in Washington D.C. 

This put him in charge of 20-25,000 pharmacy staff at 172 large and complex medical centers and 1,321 healthcare facilities (including outpatient clinics). His responsibilities included pharmacy patient care, education and training, academic affairs, and pharmacy research for this large patient healthcare system. Ralph revolutionized the practice of pharmacy as he pioneered clinical pharmacy services. His concepts changed pharmacy practice in the federal government in all communities in our nation and worldwide. He received numerous awards and accolades including the prestigious Remington Award and Andrew Cragie Award for being the top hospital pharmacist in the federal government, and for his professional community pharmacy leadership and contributions to healthcare professionals.

By 1975, he moved to California to become the pharmacy director of VA Pharmacy Services, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in La Jolla, California. His strong leadership and innovative pharmacy services helped his hospital pharmacy become the top pharmacy in the country until his retirement in 1989.

Ralph was blessed with children and had 4 sons (Mark, Eric, Timothy and Todd). He dedicated his life to his family and career. His strong leadership, hard-working ethics along with very personable qualities made him a person that people instantly were drawn to and created friendships that lasted his whole life. 

Following retirement, he focused on traveling with his wife, photography, gardening and reading. He briefly moved back to Mandan then relocated to different parts of Washington.

He was preceded in life by his parents Adam and Catherine; his brothers Frank, Joseph, Casper, Leo, & Michael; sister Matilda; and recently his oldest son Mark.

He is survived by his wife Gloria, sons Eric, Timothy, and Todd Boehm; one brother Paul and his children Noelle, Scott and Kevin of San Jose, CA;  grandchildren, Karl, Katie, Emily, Shauna, Michelle, Jessica, Daniel, Ryan, Connor and Sarah; & great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Brooklyn, Declan, Taylor-Anne and Owen.