August 9, 1934 – December 3, 2022

Tom Welsh passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 3, 2022, at Roosevelt Lake in Arizona while on a camping/ fishing trip with his daughter, Tanya, and her husband, Eric.

They were celebrating Tanya’s birthday.

He was 88 years young. He passed away doing the things he loved most.

Tom was one of nine children, born in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, on Aug. 9, 1934, to Jim and Oral Welsh.

They migrated to Boise when he was a young boy.

Soon after graduating high school, he married Pat Ridenour and they had 4 children: Tina, Tommy, Tanya, and Treva. They divorced in 1970.

Tom joined the Army so he could go to college using the GI Bill.

After his service, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Biology.

He completed his doctorate at the University of Idaho in 1995, one week before his 60th birthday!

He moved his family to McCall in 1966 where they lived in a house he built with his own hands.

He still owns that house today, where has spent the last few summers with his love, Beth.

Below is a contribution to this obituary written by one of Tom’s closest and dearest friends of nearly 60 years.

To the Family: From: David Neider For those of us who were a part of Tom’s life, it will never be the same without him. He was my best friend!

I watched Tom go through many crises in his life, but he always seemed to make it safely to shore. Now, it’s my prayer that he made it safely to heaven’s shores and that I will see him again!

Tom loved bird hunting, dirt bike riding, playing golf, camping and fishing, and spending time with his family.

Tom was able to fly fish on the Bighorn River in a drift boat last spring with Tanya’s husband, Eric; Tanya’s son, Tyler; and Eric’s son Derek.

He later said that might have been the best day of his life.

He is now fly fishing in heaven with all those who have passed before him.

Words cannot describe how much he will be missed by family and friends. The world was a better and more interesting place with him in it.

He is survived by his two sisters, Val Morse and Vickie Bryne. Also, by his four children, Tina Yelton, Tommy Welsh, Tanya Stiegemeier and Treva Gilbert and all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family will have a celebration of life ceremony next summer at his home in McCall, which was his very favorite place to be.

For a full-length obituary, visit Heritage Funeral Home website: https://gb774.app. goo.gl/dccuA.